EU policymaking 'captured' by big business

Publication date: 
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Author: 
Martin Banks
Media title: 
Parliament Magazine

A new report says that industry experts and corporate lobbyists have "captured" key areas of policy advice within the European commission.

Excerpt: 

Advisory groups provide specialist advice on policy issues and their work can form the backbone of new legislation.

Parliament has previously criticised the commission for engaging more with big business than with any other social group through these advisory groups.

ALTER-EU is now calling on the commission to make "major" changes in the composition of its advisory groups to ensure that the public interest is properly served.

It also calls on the commission to implement parliament's demands and introduce safeguards against corporate capture of expert groups.