Brussels' lobbying merry-go-round

25 January 2008

Just how much taxpayers' money does the European Commission give to organisations whose main use for that money is... lobbying the European Commission, writes Stephen Gardner. European Union funding of environmental groups and other NGOs is well-known, and is based on the argument that they must compete in Brussels with the deep pockets of industry. Money given to NGOs is also spent on worthy projects, from assisting torture victims to campaigning for minority group rights. But a look at a list of more than 80 NGOs receiving EU money, revealed by recent written questions from Tory MEP Chris Heaton-Harris, shows some causes are more worthy than others. Several political organisations get cash, notably to lobby for a more federal Europe. These tend to be based in Brussels, and headed up by Euroland 'names' with close ties to the institutions. The European Movement, for example, wants “a united, federal Europe”, is led by former European Parliament president Pat Cox and is stuffed with other European grandees. The Commission gave it nearly £2 million between 2005 and 2007. Federalist organisations receiving lesser sums, meanwhile, include the Trans-European Policy Studies Association (which promises members “easy access to European political actors and institutions”), the Union of European Federalists (given £266,000 between 2005 and 2007 while undertaking to make the “European constitutional process” a “success”), and the Young European Federalists, who want to “overcome the problem created by the present political and economic structure of centralised nation states.” Furthermore, money is also handed to 'think tanks' with extensive corporate memberships that organise events to bring those members closer to the EU institutions. Foremost among these are the European Policy Centre (received £290,000 between 2005 and 2007) and Friends of Europe (£297,000 – board of trustees includes one P. Mandelson). But organisations resisting further European integration and federalism? Surprisingly these were absent from the list. A version of this article originally appeared in Private Eye.

 

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