Lobby transparency Transparency in lobbying is crucial to guard against undue influence of big business on the climate, environment, and food

ALTER-EU: Legal framework for a mandatory EU lobby register

18 June 2013

Over the next months, the European Commission and Parliament will review their voluntary joint Transparency Register that entered into force June 2011. The register continues to have a large number of shortcomings, due to its voluntary nature. Hundreds of companies, consultancies and law firms involved in EU lobbying remain unregistered.

14 May 2013

Putting the hunger of people before profits

Food speculation by banks and financial institutions continues to contribute to rapid and unpredictable swings in food prices, which hit the most vulnerable hardest. Today, finance ministers have the opportunity to curb this destructive practice, as the council of economic and financial affairs discusses its position on the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) – which sets new regulations for financial markets.

19 April 2013

MEP ethics code: an end to secrecy about paid travel and hospitality?

Transparency about the free trips and hospitality MEPs receive could be a step closer if new ethics proposals are properly enforced.

A group of MEPs looking at the European Parliament's code of conduct has proposed ways to improve its implementation. The document, which has been made available online [1] today by Transparency International-EU, includes provisions and guidelines for the monitoring of gifts and invitations to events organised and financed by third parties which MEPs receive. The proposal will come into force as of July 1, 2013.

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Thousands of corporate lobbyists roam the corridors of power in Brussels, exercising undue and unclear influence on policy-making. Operating out of the spotlight, many of them do not hesitate to employ improper methods.

Friends of the Earth Europe challenges the opaque nature of lobbying in Brussels, which enables corporate lobbyists to convince policy-makers to put profit before people and planet. We campaign for a mandatory lobby register, seek to expose deceptive lobbying practices, and use access to information requests to shed light into the darkness.

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Reports & publications

28 Jan 2013

Keeping their head in the sands: Canada’s EU Fuel Quality Directive lobby diary

19 Jul 2012

Transparency in the European Parliament

More reports & publications

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  • Natacha Cingotti
    • Agriculture

      Food and farming in Europe and its global impacts

    • Agrofuels

      Plant-based fuels from agriculture. Also known as biofuels

    • Biodiversity

      Species and habitat protection in Europe and around the globe

    • GMOs

      Genetically modified crops and organisms

    • Land

      Measuring Europe’s land footprint and tackling the drivers of land grabbing

    • Biodiversity

      Species and habitat protection in Europe and around the globe

    • Extractive industries

      Oil and gas exploration, and mining

    • Land

      Measuring Europe’s land footprint and tackling the drivers of land grabbing

    • Materials and waste

      Reducing, reusing and recycling resources

    • Resource use

      Europe’s consumption of land, materials, water and carbon

    • Shale gas

      Unconventional gas and the extraction process known as ‘fracking’

    • Tar sands

      Unconventional oil. Also known as oil sands

    • Water use

      Measuring Europe’s water footprint