Lobbying the EU

How vulnerable are the EU institutions to undue corporate influence, and what gaps exist in EU lobbying and ethics rules?

Revolving doors

NGOs echo Ombudsman's call for more transparency on revolving doors

17.03.2015

NGOs have today responded to the Commission's reply to the European Ombudsman's recommendations on how to better handle revolving door cases within the Commission. In particular, they echo the demand for more transparency.

Conflicts of interest

How the revolving door opens lobby doors: internal Commission documents provide new insights into the UK 'cash for access' scandal

13.03.2015

The European Commission directorate-general at the heart of the 'cash for influence' claims by UK MP Jack Straw (TAXUD - taxation and customs union), has now released to Corporate Europe Observatory information showing its lobby contacts in 2013 with the now disgraced ex-minister. The documents illustrate how Straw tried to use his influential name and impressive CV to help open lobby doors. They also expose the loopholes in EU lobby rules.

Conflicts of interest

Stopping the next 'cash for access' lobby scandal

26.02.2015

The 'cash for access' scandal in the UK has taken the House of Commons by storm and prompted a vote about banning certain second jobs for MPs. CEO looks at what the scandal shows us about the loopholes in the European Parliament's own rules and procedures.

Revolving doors

UK Liberal Democrats are spinning through the revolving door

24.02.2015

The recent cases of former MEPs going through the revolving door, including a number of UK Liberal Democrats, has once again shown why the European Parliament needs to draw up new rules to tackle the risk of any possible conflicts of interest arising.

Revolving doors

Revolving doors: Juncker Commission responds with 'more of the same'

04.02.2015

The Juncker Commission, in the form of Kristalina Georgieva, has responded to the European Ombudsman's enquiry into revolving doors practices. Unfortunately, it looks like there will be no change of approach under the new commission; the response implies we will simply see 'more of the same'.

Lobby transparency

NGOs make complaint about Goldman Sachs' entry in EU lobby register

28.01.2015

LobbyControl, CEO and Friends of the Earth Europe have made a formal complaint to the EU lobby register about the entry of Goldman Sachs which the NGOs consider signficantly under-reports its lobby spend.

Lobby transparency

The corporate lobby tour

20.11.2014

Learn about the role corporate lobbies have in EU decision-making, how they manage to get what they want and how their activities affect citizens all over Europe.

Lobby transparency

CEO statement on new transparency initiative of the European Commission

19.11.2014

Corporate Europe Observatory welcomes the announcement by European Commission first vice-president Frans Timmermans today after a college discussion on Commission president Juncker’s Transparency Initiative. It appears that earlier announced transparency obligations on commissioners to publish details of meetings with lobbyists, are now extended to also cover staff in cabinets and directors-general. This is an important step forward in providing greater transparency around the role of lobbying in EU decision-making, but further steps are needed.

Conflicts of interest

Lessons must be learned from failed commissioner hearings

10.11.2014

Now that the dust has settled on the hearings of the commissioners-designate in the European Parliament, it is time for some critical reflections on the messy, partisan and in several other ways fundamentally flawed process for appointing arguably the most powerful people in the whole EU infrastructure.

Expert groups

Parliament freezes problematic expert groups budget for second time in four years

22.10.2014

The European Parliament has overwhelmingly voted in favour of freezing the budgets of the Commission's problematic advisory groups, formally known as Expert Groups. Surprisingly, this is the second time in four years that the Parliament has taken such a drastic step, after the Commission failed to tackle corporate domination within these influential groups (see graph below).

Conflicts of interest

MEP vote allows Juncker Commission marred by conflicts of interest off-the-hook

22.10.2014

Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) today criticised the plenary vote of MEPs to approve the Jean-Claude Juncker Commission.

Conflicts of interest

New infographics expose corporate backgrounds of new EU commissioners

29.09.2014

Attac Austria and Corporate Europe Observatory are today launching new 'wanted posters' about prospective members of the new European Commission, to expose details of their corporate backgrounds or other aspects of their careers which make them unsuitable to act as commissioner and promote the interests of 500 million European citizens.

Lobbying the EU

NGOs echo Ombudsman's call for more transparency on revolving doors

How the revolving door opens lobby doors: internal Commission documents provide new insights into the UK 'cash for access' scandal

Stopping the next 'cash for access' lobby scandal

UK Liberal Democrats are spinning through the revolving door

Revolving doors: Juncker Commission responds with 'more of the same'

NGOs make complaint about Goldman Sachs' entry in EU lobby register

The corporate lobby tour

CEO statement on new transparency initiative of the European Commission

Lessons must be learned from failed commissioner hearings

Parliament freezes problematic expert groups budget for second time in four years

MEP vote allows Juncker Commission marred by conflicts of interest off-the-hook

New infographics expose corporate backgrounds of new EU commissioners

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