Lobbying the EU

How vulnerable are the EU institutions to undue corporate influence, and what gaps exist in EU lobbying and ethics rules?

Lobby transparency

ALTER-EU: A decade of campaigning for transparency, ethics, accountability and democracy in Brussels

03.09.2015

After a decade of lobby scandals and debate on how to secure transparency and ethics, the European Commission needs to go beyond half measures.

#scienceVlobbying - public conference

03.09.2015

22+23/09/15. Policy-makers want their decisions to be based on the best available evidence; controlling the relevant science is therefore a key component of the strategy of the lobbyists who can afford it. During two days, this conference will analyse evidence politics and discuss evidence policies to find out how to make the existing EU scientific evidence appraisal system evolve towards better serving the public interest.

Lobby transparency

Lobbytour of Brussels' EU district

01.09.2015

A citizen's tour of corporate power in Brussels 03/09/15

EU institutions

Trojan Horse in the European Parliament – Strauss & Partners facilitating access to unregistered business lobbyists

29.06.2015

A closer look at Strauss & Partners

EU institutions

MEPs on industry payroll: potential conflicts of interest persist in EU parliament – new research

17.06.2015

Potential conflicts of interest continue to plague the European Parliament one year after elections, finds new research released today.

Expert groups

Commission claims its house is in order, rejects key Ombudsman recommendations

04.06.2015

The European Commission has finally responded to the Ombudsman investigation into its advisory groups, but the answer is a serious anti-climax and puts a big question mark over Vice-President for Transparency Frans Timmermans' commitment to tackling excessive industry influence within these groups.

EU institutions

Independent scientific advice to the EU: a Committee to replace the CSA?

13.05.2015

After many months of suspense, the European Commission annouced today that it was going to create a new "High Level Advisory Group of Eminent scientists" to replace the now defunct Chief Scientific Advisor to the President of the European Commission. Little is known yet about the proposal, but here are some comments.

Lobby transparency

ALTER-EU launches its Full lobby transparency now! campaign

30.04.2015

Find out about this exciting new campaign to demand lobby transparency in Brussels and across the EU member states.

Conflicts of interest

Appointment of head of Commission's 'think-tank' highlights inadequate conflict of interest assessment

21.04.2015

The way in which the Commission has appointed the head of its “in-house think-tank” has demonstrated its woefully inadequate conflict of interest assessment for new appointments, says Corporate Europe Observatory. The conflict of interest assessment applied to the former chief of the Lisbon Council, Ann Mettler as head of the new European Political Strategy Center (EPSC) does not appear to have explored her close cooperation with some of the biggest corporate players in the digital and technology market.

EU institutions

Reform of MEP Code of Conduct needed now!

01.04.2015

The Alliance for Lobby Transparency and Ethics Regulation (ALTER-EU) has today launched two new publications aimed at improving ethics and transparency in the European Parliament.

Revolving doors

NGOs echo Ombudsman's call for more transparency on revolving doors

17.03.2015

NGOs have today responded to the Commission's reply to the European Ombudsman's recommendations on how to better handle revolving door cases within the Commission. In particular, they echo the demand for more transparency.

Conflicts of interest

How the revolving door opens lobby doors: internal Commission documents provide new insights into the UK 'cash for access' scandal

13.03.2015

The European Commission directorate-general at the heart of the 'cash for influence' claims by UK MP Jack Straw (TAXUD - taxation and customs union), has now released to Corporate Europe Observatory information showing its lobby contacts in 2013 with the now disgraced ex-minister. The documents illustrate how Straw tried to use his influential name and impressive CV to help open lobby doors. They also expose the loopholes in EU lobby rules.

Lobbying the EU

ALTER-EU: A decade of campaigning for transparency, ethics, accountability and democracy in Brussels

#scienceVlobbying - public conference

Lobbytour of Brussels' EU district

Trojan Horse in the European Parliament – Strauss & Partners facilitating access to unregistered business lobbyists

MEPs on industry payroll: potential conflicts of interest persist in EU parliament – new research

Commission claims its house is in order, rejects key Ombudsman recommendations

Independent scientific advice to the EU: a Committee to replace the CSA?

ALTER-EU launches its Full lobby transparency now! campaign

Appointment of head of Commission's 'think-tank' highlights inadequate conflict of interest assessment

Reform of MEP Code of Conduct needed now!

NGOs echo Ombudsman's call for more transparency on revolving doors

How the revolving door opens lobby doors: internal Commission documents provide new insights into the UK 'cash for access' scandal

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