MEPs concerned over influence of 30,000 lobbyists

Two French MEPs have asked the European Commission whether or not it intends in the future to allow itself to be influenced by pressure groups, including those representing tobacco-industry interests, ‘at the cost of democratic transparency’.

They put the number of lobbyists in Brussels representing all interests at about 30,000.

In a preamble to their question, Sophie Montel and Dominique Bilde said that a recent NGO report by Transparency International had criticised the role of lobbies in the EU and the failure of European institutions to ensure the traceability of political decisions and monitor lobbying activities.

‘Conflicts of interests are apparently arising in connection with moves from the public to the private sector and failure to keep the two separate, thereby encouraging the adoption of financial and other measures likely to favour certain lobbies and revealing the predatory characteristics of the State,’ they said.

‘Given that the number of lobbyists in Brussels in fields such as pharmaceuticals, food, tobacco and alcohol is estimated at around 30 000, does the Commission still intend to allow itself to be influenced by pressure groups at the cost of democratic transparency?’