Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002608/2025/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 144
Mariusz Kamiński (ECR)
Bilderberg Meetings are criticised for their lack of transparency and unclear alleged influence on global political and economic decisions. Some investigative journalists point to the correlation between the annual Bilderberg Meetings and some important decisions made by the EU, as well as the rapid career progression of some of the politicians that have taken part in the meetings.
The Commission has highlighted its commitment to transparency, procedural rules and respect for public funds. For years, EU Commissioners have occasionally taken part in Bilderberg Meetings, however, until at least 2014, the Commission claimed that they were doing so as private individuals[1].
However, in recent years more Commissioners have been taking part in these meetings more regularly. In addition, the meetings’ official programmes show that Commissioners are attending in an official capacity[2]. Transport, accommodation, food and other costs are paid for using EU taxpayers’ money, with one Commissioner’s official mission costing a few thousand euro. Meanwhile, none of the four Commissioners that took part in the 2024 meeting in Madrid published information on any of the meetings that took place there. In addition, Commissioner Ylva Johansson even concealed the purpose of her mission[3].
- 1.When did this change take place allowing EU Commissioners to participate in Bilderberg Meetings as part of their official duties and on what basis?
- 2.With whom did Commissioners Maria Luís Albuquerque, Michael McGrath, Wopke Hoekstra and Maroš Šefčovič speak during this year’s event in Stockholm and on what topics?
Submitted: 27.6.2025
- [1] Response from President Barroso in 2014: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-7-2014-000218-ASW_EN.html; Response from President Prodi in 2003: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:92003E001370; Response from President Santer in 1999: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/P-4-1998-3880-ASW_EN.html.
- [2] https://www.bilderbergmeetings.org/meetings/meeting-2025/participants-2025https://www.bilderbergmeetings.org/meetings/meeting-2024/participants-2024
- [3] https://ec.europa.eu/transparencyinitiative/meetings/mission.do?host=97cfcbd7-4cc8-493b-9643-66100e578cf9&missionsperiod=2024_2