Press

Industry experts and corporate lobbyists have effectively captured key areas of policy advice within the European Commission, according to new research carried out by the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation (ALTER-EU) which finds that two thirds of DG Enterprise and Industry's advisory groups are dominated by corporate representatives.

Brussels, 27 June – A formal complaint has been made with the EU Ombudsman concerning the President of the European Central Bank President’s membership of a banking lobby [1].

An initial analysis of the new expert panels released by the European Food Safety Authority, published 25 June, raises questions about the effectiveness of EFSA’s new rules on conflicts of interest. These experts will take up their function from 1 July 2012 for a three-year term.

Brussels, 26 June 2012 - The future of agricultural research under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Horizon 2020 is under threat according to a new analysis by Corporate Europe Observatory, published today (Tuesday) [1].

Brussels, 25 June -  The EU Transparency Register, jointly launched by the European Commission and the Parliament a year ago today (Monday), fails to give a full and accurate picture of lobbying activities in Brussels, according to a new report by the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation (Alter-EU) [1].

Business lobbies have been accused of hijacking the third UN Summit on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, pushing solutions designed to boost profits and guarantee business as usual, avoiding much needed tougher rules on corporate power. Analysis by CEO shows that a proliferation of UN partnerships with business have given corporate lobbyists unparalleled access to the Summit, allowing them to push business-friendly solutions and block tighter regulation

The first audit reports of soy companies certified by the Roundtable on Responsible Soya (RTRS) show a failure to achieve any social or environmental benefit, according to a new briefing published today ahead of the RTRS Annual Conference in London

The European Commission has been warned that imposing water privatisation as part of the bail-out packages for struggling EU economies threatens access to water for the poorest and could be in breach of EU legislation, in an open letter to Commissioner Olli Rehn, signed by more than 20 civil society organisations and trade union movements from across the world

In a plenary vote, the European Parliament today adopted a report by Monica Macovei MEP (PPE), deciding that the approval of the European food agency’s 2010 budget will be postponed. Also, a strong resolution was adopted denouncing the conflicts of interest that have plagued the agency. A similar decision was taken on the approval of the 2010 budget of the European Medicines Agency (EMA).