Articles

No major breakthrough at International Biofuels Conference

Campaigners, trade unionists and water professionals representing over fifteen countries from across the globe, came together for a seminar in Madrid (Spain) on 17-18 November 2005. The seminar participants decided to launch the "Reclaiming Public Water" network in order to strengthen the international voice of those promoting progressive models of public water delivery. Read the full summary of the seminar outcomes.

The director of the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) Staffan Jerneck told lobbyists at the recent European Agenda Summit he had “never thought" about registering his think tank in the Commission's register of interest representatives.

Four months after the launch of the register, two of largest Brussels-based lobby consultancies have now entered some details. Burson-Marsteller, one of the top-five biggest 'public affairs' firms in Brussels, indicates it had a total turnover on lobbying of 6,963,000 euro in 2007.

Among the 431 entries in the European Commission's lobby disclosure register today, there are only four law firms. That is remarkably few, considering that the Commission expects all law firms that are lobbying on behalf of clients to register and disclose both their lobbying turnover and their clients’ names.

New research from CEO reveals the close involvement of the European employers' federation, BusinessEurope, in drawing up the Global Europe trade strategy. CEO's new report highlights how representatives from BusinessEurope were given privileged access in the preparations of the new strategy, with exclusive meetings with the former Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and top officials from DG Trade.

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