Health

Since the start of this year, two curious new groups have been set up in Brussels: the Consumer Choice Center and an EU branch of the Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco (Forest EU). They claim to represent consumers, but a closer look shows no links to those they allege to speak for.

A combined effect of EU-level policies and corporate lobbying is creating a pro-privatisation environment for healthcare provision in Europe. Our new research explores the EU policy areas – and the role of corporate lobbying – that encourages more privatised models of healthcare: marketisation, trade, public private partnerships, and economic governance.

CEO welcomes the very strongly worded final ruling by European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly in her inquiry into the Commission’s implementation of UN rules for contacts with tobacco industry lobbyists.

Splits occur within European Commission, as European Parliament, Ombudsman and NGOs increase the pressure for implementing UN rules for contacts with tobacco industry lobbyists.

2 to 10 times more pharma lobby meetings took place below the Commission's top levels disclosed online.

Big money and close ties behind Big Pharma's Brussels lobby efforts – new study

Redactions speak louder than words.

As part of her inquiry into the Commission's implementation of UN tobacco lobby rules, European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly has asked Commission President Barroso for “a supplementary opinion” with proper answers to questions raised in her inquiry. O'Reilly took this step after having received a seriously unconvincing letter from Barroso that fails to address the specific questions and arguments put forward by CEO in the complaint that sparked the Ombudsman's inquiry.

OLAF's supervisory committee has sent CEO its 29-page report, so far treated as confidential, on the anti-fraud agency's handling of the investigation that led to the forced resignation of EU health commissioner John Dalli (Opinion 2/2012).

The European Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, has now confirmed that she will investigate the European Commission's failure to properly implement UN rules for contacts with tobacco lobbyists, following a complaint submitted by Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO).

Fresh evidence from the French online newspaper Mediapart has cast new light on just how intimate the relations between the controversial tobacco industry and MEPs can be.