Lobbying the EU

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

Lobbying for governments in Brussels

27.05.2010

This report from Corporate Europe Observatory presents 15 recent examples of governments using lobby consultancies to influence the EU institutions, including Belarus, Botswana, Ethiopia, Jersey, Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka. They all have hired “public affairs” firms in Brussels to try and boost their diplomacy work. Their motives differ, but include polishing their image, gaining political support, securing EU funding or preferential trade treatment, and blocking new EU regulations.

Europe’s 2020 Strategy: big business as usual

24.03.2010

Sometimes no news is not good news – and this is certainly the case as far as Europe 2020 – the European Union’s proposal for a new overarching strategy is concerned.

Financial crisis

Financial industry shapes EU regulation

05.11.2009

The new ALTER-EU report 'A captive Commission - the role of the financial industry in shaping EU regulation' can be found at: http://www.alter-eu.org/en/system/files/publications/CaptiveCommission.pdf Brussels, November 5, 2009 - The vast majority of financial ‘experts’ advising the European Commission represent the banks and investors responsible for the global economic crisis, according to a new report published today by the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation (ALTER EU) [1].

Business Conference blocked

30.10.2009

Lobby Register - Success or Failure?

08.06.2009

One year after the launch of the EU Commission's lobby register, with less than 23% of Brussels-based lobby organisations registered, ALTER-EU publishes a detailed report highlighting the register's failures and putting forward concrete proposals for improvement.

Obscured by the smoke

02.06.2009

British American Tobacco (BAT) spent more than €700,000 lobbying the EU last year, up to four times as much as the company declared on the EU’s register of interest representatives, new research by Corporate Europe Observatory has revealed. This report argues that BAT's hidden lobbying activities, which are clearly not in the public interest, should be exposed to public scrutiny.

Financial crisis

Would you bank on them?

24.02.2009

Why we shouldn't trust the EU's financial "wise men"

Brussels Sunshine Blog

10.02.2009

The European Commission launched the first ever EU lobbying transparency register in June 2008. But will this voluntary mechanism end the secrecy surrounding much of lobbying in Brussels? The Brussels Sunshine blog aims to lift the veil of secrecy which covers so much lobbying activity in the EU.

See the Brussels Sunshine blog

Inside the Brussels Bubble

10.02.2009

Corporate Europe Observatory's Inside the Brussels Bubble watches life in and around the EU institions in Brussels.

See: Inside the Brussels Bubble

BP – Extracting Influence at the Heart of the EU

28.01.2009

Oil industry lobbying at the heart of the EU has played a key role in influencing Europe's energy policy. The report BP - Extracting Influence at the Heart of the EU reveals BP’s close relationship with EU decision makers and highlights how the company has convinced Commissioners and others that BP’s interests are in the EU’s interest.

Worst EU Lobby Awards 2008

26.08.2008

Barroso Challenged on Expert Groups

11.08.2008

http://www.corporateeurope.org/docs/expertgroups/Letter-to-Barroso&Kalla...

No progress on membership transparency has been made so far and the Commission is on the breach of breaking the deadline it set for itself.

ALTER-EU also wrote to Commissioners Verheugen, Potocnik, Piebalgs, Vassiliou and Dimas to ask them how are they going to address specific cases of Expert Groups dominated by business interests in breach with the Commission's own codes of conduct.