Articles

ECB refusal to end Draghi’s G30 membership dangerously careless

18.04.2018

The European Central Bank (ECB) today rejected calls for its President Mario Draghi to suspend his membership of banking lobby forum the Group of 30 (G30) - a decision which clashes with the European Ombudsman’s recent recommendation.

Trade

Visions for a new food and trade system

17.04.2018

On the occasion of the International Day of Farmers' Struggle, we have jointly with allies prepared five short visions for a sustainable, healthy and fair food and trade policy to restart this important debate.
EU institutions

Take a virtual tour of the EU lobby world

16.04.2018

Who influences decision-making in the European Union? And how? Welcome to the complex and often shady realm of corporate lobbying, which you can now tour from the comfort of your sofa. Or while queuing for frites. Or even on the go in Brussels, following the virtual route on foot!

Trade

Quiet on the set! The EU is negotiating trade deals...

12.04.2018

Following calls for openness and public participation, the European Commission now advertises its trade negotiations as transparent and inclusive. But crucial information about EU trade deals are still kept from citizens. Even member state governments regularly complain about being left in the dark. At the same time, corporations continue to call the shots on EU trade talks.

Third of top staff at EU Commission’s financial regulator came from or went into industry

11.04.2018

Ten years after the start of the financial crisis, the revolving door continues to swing both ways at the European Commission directorate responsible for financial regulation, new research reveals.

EU institutions

Financial regulators and the private sector: permanent revolving door at DG FISMA

11.04.2018

One third of the people who occupied top positions in the Directorate‑General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (DG FISMA) during the period 2008-2017 either came from the financial industry or went there after their time at the Commission.

Better access to industry studies used in EFSA risk assessments insufficient without usage and quotation rights

11.04.2018

Today’s European Commission proposal for the disclosure of confidential industry studies used in the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) risk assessments contains positive elements but fails to enable meaningful independent scrutiny of the data.

Fossil fuel companies under fire for undermining UN climate talks

09.04.2018

As EU environment ministers meet in Bulgaria to discuss the upcoming UN climate negotiations, 93 civil society organisations from Europe and across the globe have joined forces to demand a conflict of interest policy for all future UN climate talks.
EU institutions

Open letter: EU must back efforts to tackle vested interests at UN climate talks

09.04.2018

93 organisations call on EU lead negotiator, European Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete, to support efforts to tackle vested interests at the UN talks.