euronews.com
Surge in Defense Lobbying in European Parliament
From June 2024 to June 2025, lobbying on defense in the European Parliament surged to 197 meetings—a stark contrast to the previous five years' 78—reflecting the EU's increased focus on defense spending and initiatives, with German MEPs leading the engagement and major firms significantly boosting their lobbying efforts.
- What is the impact of the surge in defense lobbying in the European Parliament since June 2024?
- Since June 2024, lobbying on defense issues in the European Parliament has surged, with 197 meetings recorded—a significant increase from the previous five years' 78. This reflects the EU's heightened focus on defense, leading to increased lobbying activity within the Parliament and Commission.
- Which interest groups have shown the most significant increase in lobbying activity, and how are their budgets affecting their engagement?
- German MEPs had the most meetings (55), followed by Bulgaria (19), Spain (15), and others. Increased lobbying budgets from groups like RTX (10 meetings) and ASD (12 meetings) reflect this trend, with ASD's budget ranging from €300,000 to €399,999 in 2023. Major defense firms like Airbus (6 meetings) and MBDA (5 meetings) also significantly increased their engagement.
- How do the recent rule updates affecting transparency in MEP lobbying disclosure address concerns about the potential for undisclosed influence?
- The EU's increased defense spending and initiatives like EDIP and 'Defense Readiness 2030' incentivize lobbying. However, Transparency International highlights a lack of enforcement for disclosure rules, with 90 MEPs not declaring any meetings. Despite September 2023 rule updates, informal meetings remain undisclosed, impacting transparency.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article presents a relatively balanced view of the increase in defense lobbying. While it highlights the substantial rise in meetings and spending, it also includes counterpoints from Transparency International, acknowledging potential limitations in the data due to underreporting. The headline could be considered slightly biased towards highlighting the surge in lobbying, but the body of the article provides a nuanced perspective.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and objective. Terms like "surge" and "sharp increase" describe the quantitative changes in lobbying activity without overtly expressing an opinion. The inclusion of quotes from Transparency International adds a layer of balanced perspective.
Bias by Omission
The article acknowledges a potential bias by omission: the undisclosed meetings between MEPs and lobbyists. Transparency International notes that a lack of sanctions for non-compliance with disclosure rules may lead to underreporting of lobbying activities. This omission limits the ability to form a complete picture of lobbying influence on EU defense policy. However, the article also mentions that the Parliament updated its rules in September 2023, aiming to improve transparency and that this may partially explain the increase in reported meetings.
Sustainable Development Goals
The increased lobbying around defense issues reflects a heightened focus on European security and defense cooperation, which is essential for maintaining peace and stability. While lobbying itself can raise concerns about undue influence, the increased transparency measures aim to improve accountability and strengthen institutions. The article highlights efforts to increase transparency in lobbying activities, which is directly related to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) target 16.10, which aims to ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms.