Press

New European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker needs to tackle the persistent over-representation of corporate interests in European Commission ‘expert groups’ warn trade unions and transparency organisations.

Scientific advice should be transparent, objective and independent, and there should be more science and more diverse expertise available to the European Commission’s President, a coalition of 28 international and national NGOs wrote in a letter addressed to President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker today (1).

No sector has lobbied the European Commission more when it was preparing negotiations on the proposed EU-US trade deal (TTIP) than the agribusiness sector, according to data published today by CEO in a series of research-based infographics.

A leaked document shows the EU Commission is spearheading a campaign for the interests of the financial sector at the negotiations with the US on a free trade and investment agreement (TTIP).

As many civil society groups walk back in to the UN climate talks today in Bonn after walking out last November in Warsaw [X], authors of the COP19 Guide to Corporate Lobbying [X], Corporate Europe Observatory, warn that unless we end the cosy relationship between political leaders and the dirty energy industry, we will be walking back into a climate disaster.

More than 1100 MEP candidates have pledged to “stand-up for citizens and democracy against the excessive lobbying influence of banks and big business”. [1] The 1100+ candidates are from parties across the political spectrum and from all 28 EU member states.

Farmers, trade unions and citizens belonging to the D1920 Alliance and Alter Summit tried to shut-down Brussels' biggest corporate lobbying event this morning, where many high-level political leaders were expected, in protest at big business dictating European policy while the voices of citizens are excluded.

There is heavy criticism of the Commission in a new report from Brussels lobby watchdog Corporate Europe Observatory on the opening day of Europe’s top corporate lobbying event, the European Business Summit. It suggests a freeze on further competences to the EU body and a series of stronger rules on lobbyists, among other measures.

Brussels, Cologne, May 13, 2014 – Three years after the cash-for-amendments scandal [1], the lack of enforcement of the European Parliament ethics rules leaves the integrity and the credibility of the Parliament at risk, warned transparency campaigners today.