EU institutions

Brussels is at the centre of EU decision-making and as such attracts thousands of lobbyists promoting the interests of big business. In this section you can find basic information about this corporate lobbying and how it affects you as a citizen. Or you can visit our specific pages on the revolving door phenomenon of politicians who become lobbyists – and vice versa – and on the corporate dominance of expert groups whose advice helps make official policy for the EU.

If you want to investigate corporate lobbying, we have put together a list of online tools that can help.

Mythbusting: the US lobby register

25.11.2013

What lessons can we learn from the US experience of a mandatory lobby register? As MEPs consider whether to opt for a mandatory EU lobby register, CEO analyses the myths and facts surrounding the US system.

Belgian MEP in lobby amendments scandal

22.11.2013

ICT companies, led by US digital giants such as Facebook, Google and Amazon, have been waging a ‘lobbying war’ to weaken the EU’s proposal for a new data protection directive, according to a documentary recently broadcast on Flemish public TV. The documentary exposed how Belgian MEP Louis Michel (who was the EU’s Commissioner for development from 2004 to 2009) submitted 229 amendments, of which over 100 were heavily inspired by corporate lobbyists. In the spotlight of the cameras, Michel felt obliged to withdraw over 80 of ‘his’ amendments before the vote.

Is the seed industry about to win a decisive victory in the battle over food chain control?

19.11.2013

One of the last hot topics in the European Parliament before the 2014 elections is a new set of rules on seeds marketing. This text is extremely important for all players in the food chain: seed savers, farmers and the seed industry of course, but also environmentalists, consumers and the agro-industry at large. The European Parliament has appointed a rapporteur on the issue, Italian MEP Sergio Silvestris (EPP) who is now co-hosting a dinner event with the European Seed Association (ESA), the seed industry's lobby group in Brussels.

Mythbusting: the Commission and the revolving door

14.11.2013

CEO responds to the Commission's positive picture of its handling of revolving doors cases and conflicts of interest. Can the Commission afford to be quite so complacent?

10,000 people demand a mandatory lobby register!

13.11.2013

A total of 10,281 people have signed an online petition (across several websites) which was delivered today, urging MEPs to stand up for lobbying transparency in the European Union by supporting the transition to a mandatory lobby register.

Updated: A transatlantic corporate bill of rights - investor privileges in EU-US trade deal threaten public interest

04.10.2013

The EU negotiating mandate for a far-reaching free trade agreement with the US reveals the European Commission’s plans to enshrine more powers for corporations in the deal. The proposal follows a persistent campaign by industry lobby groups and law firms to empower large companies to challenge regulations both at home and abroad if they affect their profits.

Expert groups

A Year of Broken Promises

06.11.2013

A new report released today by ALTER-EU, AK EUROPA and ÖGB Europabüro shows the Commission is doing just that, putting big business in charge of its advisory groups despite promising MEPs reform over a year ago after they froze groups' budgets.

Secret lobbying by law firms shows the need for a mandatory transparency register

04.11.2013

In mid-October, the New York Times published one of the most important investigations this year into EU lobbying, exposing important facts about a little-known aspect of corporate lobbying in Brussels: the lobbying by a dozen or more international law firms, m

Shine a spotlight on secret lobbying

30.10.2013

ALTER-EU has launched a new urgent action: shine a spotlight on the lobby capital of Europe by demanding full EU lobby transparency now. Join ALTER-EU to demand that the 20,000 lobbyists in Brussels are properly regulated.

EFSA

Looking for real transparency – an open letter to the European Commission’s Chief Scientist

17.10.2013

In this open letter CEO warns against a corporate attack on the precautionary principle. It asks Mrs Anne Glover to stick to her transparency commitments and request the industry to publish in full some toxicologic studies which are of crucial importance for public health.

Revolving doors

ALTER-EU seeks intern to work on new campaign

17.10.2013

ALTER-EU is looking for an intern to provide support to the ALTER-EU coordinator and steering committee (consisting of seven civil society groups) on this project. Day to day tasks will vary but you could find yourself: sourcing MEP candidate lists; liaising with activists and campaigners across Europe; working with website designers; spearheading social media actions; and drafting campaign materials. Meanwhile ALTER-EU offers you an opportunity to strengthen your campaign skills and to participate in an exciting pan-European initiative!

Revolving doors

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. The Commission's (non-)response to Dalligate

14.10.2013

When the Dalligate scandal hit the headlines, it rocked the Commission but one year on, Barroso has done his best to brush it under the carpet, ignoring the huge loopholes in the lobbying transparency rules and the Code of Conduct for Commissioners which enabled the scandal to take hold in the first place.

EU institutions

Mythbusting: the US lobby register

Belgian MEP in lobby amendments scandal

Is the seed industry about to win a decisive victory in the battle over food chain control?

Mythbusting: the Commission and the revolving door

10,000 people demand a mandatory lobby register!

Updated: A transatlantic corporate bill of rights - investor privileges in EU-US trade deal threaten public interest

A Year of Broken Promises

Secret lobbying by law firms shows the need for a mandatory transparency register

Shine a spotlight on secret lobbying

Looking for real transparency – an open letter to the European Commission’s Chief Scientist

ALTER-EU seeks intern to work on new campaign

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. The Commission's (non-)response to Dalligate

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