Articles

Öttinger under fire for ties with big energy

15.01.2010

In yesterday's hearing, several MEPs grilled Energy Commissioner designate Günther Öttinger about his close ties with German energy companies.

The Ideal Climate Commissioner?

14.01.2010

Hedegaard's record of siding with big business lobbies should be reason for concern 

 

Trade

De Gucht on shaky ground

13.01.2010

Caroline Lucas MEP (Greens, UK) challenged the Trade Commissioner designate Karel de Gucht on the issue of corporate influence over EU trade policy when he appeared before the European Parliament hearing yesterday (12 January 2010).

De Gucht on shaky ground on corporate lobbying

13.01.2010

Caroline Lucas MEP (Greens, UK) challenged the Trade Commissioner designate Karel de Gucht on the issue of corporate influence over EU trade policy when he appeared before the European Parliament hearing yesterday (12 January 2010).

Commission candidates face MEP questions

11.01.2010
Trade

A question to Karel de Gucht

08.01.2010

In his written response to questions from MEPs, Commissioner-designate for trade, Karel de Gucht, pledged “independence” and “to counter third-party interests where these have undue influence”. He also said he would “listen and to seek the opinion of the widest range of stakeholders and experts”.

Will DG Trade finally get a commissioner that puts an end to the department's habit of granting big business privileged access and undue influence over its policies?

Food

Angry Mermaid in Washington DC

05.01.2010

Climate activists from the DC Action Factory in Washington were so inspired by the Angry Mermaid Award, they wanted to get involved. So following the announcement of the results at the UN climate talks in Copenhagen, they made their own Angry Mermaid Award and paid a visit to Monsanto's offices in Washington DC. Watch the action - and Monsanto's friendly reception.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vBiRp81pgo

The Angry Mermaid Award Winner is...

04.01.2010

The winner of the Angry Mermaid Award 2009, announced by award-winning writer and journalist Naomi Klein at the UN climate talks in Copenhagen today is the biotech giant Monsanto with 37% of the total vote [1].
Oil giant Shell took second place (18%) in the Award for lobbying to sabotage effective action on climate change, followed by the American Petroleum Institute (14%).
Ten thousand people voted in the Angry Mermaid Award, named after the iconic Copenhagen mermaid who is angry about corporate lobbying on climate change.

Kallas and the unresolved revolving doors problem

30.12.2009

While Commissioner Kallas certainly deserves praise, the paper titled "My results 2005-2009" posted on his website just before Christmas overstates his achievements on some key issues. The voluntary lobby transparency register simply suffers from too many shortcomings to be considered a success, as has been pointed out in numerous postings in this blog and by other observers.