Press

Press release

Bayer-Monsanto merger would further tighten corporate grip on food and farming systems

30.06.2017

Earlier today, German agribusiness giant Bayer formally requested the EU Commission’s approval for the takeover of its US seeds and pesticides rival Monsanto. Here is our reaction.
Press release

Corporate lobby scene at heart of new Brussels travel guide

29.06.2017

The city of Brussels is famous for beer, fries, chocolate – and lobbying. On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, lobby monitoring NGO Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) today published its 'Lobby Planet', a guide to the often murky world of EU lobbying.

Press release

New EFSA independence policy likely rejects most Parliament demands

22.06.2017

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) yesterday published its new independence policy. Unfortunately, EFSA's new policy generally seems to be holding on to the biggest loopholes from its previous rules. This limits the effectiveness of the improvements that have been made.
Press release

Pro-merger stance of EU Commission both paradoxical and harmful, say academics

22.06.2017

The looming mega merger of agribusiness giants Bayer and Monsanto is only the latest example of highly disturbing economic concentration on the global seeds and pesticides markets. A new study published by Corporate Europe Observatory reveals since 1990, the EU Commission has approved nine out of every ten mergers without any conditions.

Press release

EU Food Safety Authority execs reject EU Parliament demands to stay clear of industry-funded experts

20.06.2017

Top executives at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have revealed their recommendations to reject demands for more independence from the food industry, ignoring repeated calls from the European Parliament and civil society to close loopholes in the agency’s independence policy.

Press release

Nearly half the experts from the European Food Safety Authority have financial conflicts of interest

14.06.2017

Almost half of all experts sitting on the scientific panels of the European Food Safety Authority are in a direct and/ or indirect financial conflict of interest situation with the agribusiness and food industries, Corporate Europe Observatory's new report “Recruitment Errors” shows.

Press release

Fishing lobbies use press passes to loiter outside quota talks

04.05.2017

Dutch and Spanish fishing lobbies have used press passes to access the EU Council building during crucial ministerial negotiations on fishing quotas.
Press release

EU Parliament urges Food Safety Authority to finally cut industry ties

27.04.2017

The European Parliament plenary today strongly criticised the existing independence policy of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and its weak draft for an overhaul of these guidelines. It fails to introduce an effective cooling-off period for experts to avoid conflicts of interest and neglects the key issue of research funding.
Press release

Pesticide industry instrumentalised Pope’s image to defend toxic products

05.04.2017

Participants to the 10th Forum for the Future of Agriculture, an annual lobbying event organised by Syngenta and the EU lobby of large landowners, were greeted with a "special" video message, an "Address from His Holiness The Pope". However, the video did not actually come from the Vatican.