| Corporate Europe Observatory

A picture showing a field of grain. Highlighted in turquoise, the text reads: " OpEd by Hans van Sharen and Irene Keizer".

Food & agriculture

A new agri mega merger, where are political rightwingers when farmers need them?

While most people were sunbathing or watching the Olympic games, the merger between Bunge and Viterra received a green light from the European Commission which is a huge step in having approval globally. Who? Bunge? What? Right, hold on!

cartoon showing Ursula von der leyen in 2019 with the words: how it started. Von der Leyen is giving a speech to young climate and environmental just activists saying "I have been inspired by the passion, conviction and energy of those millions of young people who have made their voices heard in our streets and dfound their way to our hearts". The second half of the cartoon says: How it's going. It shows von der Leyen giving a speech to businessmen holding bags of money in a very polluted environment and sa

Lobbying the EU

From Green Deal supporter to Industrial Deal champion

Ursula von der Leyen reappointed as EU Commission president

Today, Ursula von der Leyen has been reappointed as president of the European Commission. However, her priorities have drastically changed compared to her first mandate. Five years ago, she promised a transformative Green Deal but is now openly embracing corporate lobbyists and their deregulation agenda.

A blue visual showing the flag of the EU with vampire teeth. The text reads: "Ms von der Leyen, we need lobbying rules with teeth!"

Lobbying the EU

Open Letter to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

High time to act on enforcing lobbying rules

Transparency watchdogs LobbyControl, Transparency International, The Good Lobby, and Corporate Europe Observatory sent an open letter to President von der Leyen demanding she properly implement and enforce transparency rules needed to improve the governance of European policy-making.

The ADF was instrumental in annulling the right to abortion in the United States at the federal level in 2022, due to a judgment by the Supreme Court. (Photo: Matt Hrkac, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)

Lobbying the EU

Discrimination is not a fundamental freedom

Do not let US far right lobby groups pervert the meaning of human rights

A reply to the Alliance Defending Freedom - an anti-abortionist organisation that defends hate speech with a strong presence on the Brussels lobbying stage.

A cartoon by Ralph showing a person from Big Polluters Ltd saying "We aren't driving climate destruction, we are just putting carbon into the atmosphere for capture later... we are thinking ahead!" on the right hand-side of the visual, a text box reads: "op-ed by Marcella Via"

Lobbying the EU

Polluters put before people in EU's 'industrial deal'

In February 2024, big polluting corporations, led by the chemicals lobby group CEFIC, launched the 'EU Industrial Deal', or 'Antwerp Declaration', which pushes for business-friendly EU decision-making, deregulation of toxic products, and more public subsidies for business as usual.

This cartoon shows an office and a desk labelled “Von der Leyen” with an in-tray. Near the desk on the floor is a waste paper bin labelled “out” and inside and around it we see crumpled papers “REACH reforms”, “pesticide reduction”, “export bans”. On the wall behind the desk is an EU flag. There is also a calendar which highlights the EP elections in June and the new Commission in November.

"Industrial Deal" under fire: NGOs demand EU focus on public interest over corporate capture

Tomorrow European and member state leaders will be gathering to decide on the new EU strategic agenda for the next five years. Civil society organisations across Europe and beyond are calling for real political solutions to the multiple crises people face.

Competitiveness fish

EU civil society says "It's time to prioritise needs of people and the environment"

120 organisations sign letter to EU and member state leaders

As EU leaders meet at tomorrow's European Council summit, 120 civil society organisations demand they prioritise the needs of people and the environment, not corporate greed.

Lobbying the EU

The Alliance Attacking Freedom

EU Watchdog Radio Episode 52

During the last EU legislature, the rise of far-right forces has come hand in hand with the stigmatisation, harassment, and violence against women and LGBTQI+ people. Find out more about the North American ultra conservative groups behind it in this podcast hosted by Marcella Via.

A blue dotted visual with two green rectangles. The text reads: "The candidates' guide to corporate capture in the EU institutions - and what to do about it".

Lobbying the EU

Powerful but unelected:

election special, new guide to corporate lobbyists in the European Union

The European elections are gearing up – but one group doesn't need to win votes in order to influence policy-making.

Hold supermarkets responsible for pesticide reduction

Food & agriculture

Far right aims to capture farmer protests - but offers no solutions, promoting same neoliberal agenda

Today a farmers protest is taking place in Brussels, under the Atomium. Its organisation was discussed at a meeting by an Orban-linked Hungarian think tank in January, with attendance of several far-right parties. The speakers list for today is dominated by the far-right as well. Turn-out numbers however are far lower than previous protests.

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