Corporate Europe Observatory

Exposing the power of corporate lobbying in the EU

International trade

The EU's trade policy aims to increase the 'competitiveness' of European companies – by guaranteeing them access to raw materials through often secretive free trade deals and by making sure that regulations do not stand in their way. CEO is challenging this craze for so-called competitiveness, which we believe in reality advances the interests of corporate Europe at the expense of social and environmental justice.

Press release

CETA deal could help investors attack public interest safeguards, new report finds

September 16th 2016International trade

A new report on the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) reveals how the trade deal could make EU member states vulnerable to costly lawsuits from North American investors that threaten public interest.

Story

Better Regulation: corporate-friendly deregulation in disguise

June 1st 2016The power of lobbies, International trade

A deregulation agenda is sweeping through the Commission & member states, particularly pushed by the UK.

Story

EU investment proposal won’t prevent corporate attacks on health & environment

April 19th 2016The power of lobbies, International trade

Dangerous attacks against regulations protecting public interest wouldn't be prevented by 'new' proposals.

Report

The zombie ISDS

February 17th 2016The power of lobbies, International trade

For the past two years, an unprecedented Europe-wide public controversy about a once-unknown element in international trade agreements has kept citizens, politicians and the media on their toes. It’s all been about the so-called investor-state dispute settlement system, in short, ISDS.

Story

Dangerous Regulatory Duet

January 18th 2016Economy & finance, International trade

The ongoing EU-US trade negotiations, TTIP, seek to bring rules on both sides of the Atlantic together by means of so-called regulatory cooperation. Our new report with LobbyControl "Dangerous Regulatory Duet" finds that regulatory cooperation procedures have already been used to delay, water down and prevent legislation in the public interest.

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Story

TTIP leaks highlight the dangers of regulatory cooperation

May 12th 2016The power of lobbies, International trade

The recent leak of many parts of TTIP, allowing us for the first time to read the negotiating position of the US, confirms our most serious concerns.

Story

EU's TTIP position: regulations to be made for and by big business

April 11th 2016The power of lobbies, International trade

Despite growing concerns among the European public, the new EU proposal on regulatory cooperation in TTIP does nothing to address the upcoming democratic threats.

Press release

Panama Papers show need to safeguard press freedoms from proposed EU legislation

April 5th 2016International trade

The ''Trade Secrets Protection'' Directive due to be voted on by MEPs on April 14 would give companies new legal ammunition to prosecute journalists and news organisations publishing their documents and information.