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.

Expert groups

Will MEPs resist lobby pressure to derail better workplace cancer law?

22.02.2017

Next Tuesday, the European Parliament's employment committee will vote on a directive that, quite literally, is a life-and-death issue. On the table: the revision of EU laws to protect workers from cancer-causing substances at work.

Monsanto Lobbying: an attack on us, our planet and democracy

13.10.2016

Corporations like Monsanto have limitless resources to buy political power through lobbying. This short guide, published at the occasion of the International Monsanto Tribunal in The Hague, exposes some of Monsanto’s key lobbying strategies and tools, illustrated with examples from different parts of the world.

Expert groups

Corporate interests continue to dominate key expert groups

14.02.2017

New study on the Commission's legislative advisory groups highlights a continuing Big Business bias - despite Commission's new rules.

Adapting the EU Directive on Trade Secrets ‘Protection’ into National Law

01.02.2017

Last year, the EU’s trade secrets directive was enacted, but the way it defines these secrets is so broad that it will likely hinder public scrutiny of corporations in Europe. Our new report highlights what legislators and civil society organisations need to watch out for when implementing the directive.

Open letter urges Parliament to reject Oettinger’s appointment as head of Commission HR

05.01.2017

CEO joined forces with nine other civil society organisations working for equality, non-discrimination, transparent decision-making and strong ethics rules: in an open letter to the European Parliament we urge MEPs to oppose Oettinger’s appointment as the Comission’s head of human resources.

Dieselgate report slams Commission and national governments for maladministration

20.12.2016

After nine months of hearings, the draft report of the EU Parliament’s inquiry into the Dieselgate scandal has it black on white: the European Commission and EU member states had known since 2004-05 that diesel cars’ nitrogen oxide emissions were far above legal limits – yet neither took action.

‘Better Regulation’ to make things worse

14.12.2016

Our new report shows how industry lobbies present employee protection against work-related cancers as an 'unnecessary' burden on companies, and explains which tactics have been used to weaken and delay the European Union's revision of the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive.

Ombudsman’s final ruling slams European Commission for maladministration, violating UN tobacco lobby rules

08.12.2016

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.

The Commission: keeping company with big business

17.11.2016

8 November 2016 saw the annual lobby fest between the Commission and BusinessEurope. Lasting for over seven hours, attracting four commissioners and the secretary-general, as well as 26 major corporate interests (who between them spend over €31,789,000 a year on EU lobbying), this is exclusive, privileged access at its most extreme.

Pesticides lobby tries to dodge civil society criticism by throwing money at it

03.11.2016

After winning the Democracy for Sale Award as the worst corporate lobby actor on TTIP, the pesticide industry’s EU lobby group European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) announced they would transfer money to co-organiser Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO). CEO has so far not been able to register this transaction, but will of course return the money to ECPA if it ever arrives, as we never accept corporate funding.

Climate

Tell World Leaders to Kick Big Polluters out of Climate Policy!

19.10.2016

As world leaders prepare for COP22 in Marrakesh, Morocco, this November, the oil and gas industry retains a firm grip on the UN climate talks and climate policy in general. It’s time to break free and reclaim power over climate policy.

TTIP: The ultimate corporate trade treaty

14.10.2016

There are many potential winners of the awards for the worst lobbyist on TTIP, probably the most corporate dominated trade negotiations in history.