Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001826/2025/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 144
Michał Dworczyk (ECR)
The Commission is obliged to ensure transparency in the development and implementation of EU legislation and policies. However, in recent years, there have been numerous reports of a lack of transparency. One need only mention the Commission President’s secret SMS negotiations on the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, or the Commission’s lobbying of MEPs on the Green Deal[1], which violated the principles of sincere cooperation between EU institutions.
Another example is the Commission’s lobbying activities in Member States to promote its policies in the area of security and defence, including the arms industry. The EU’s competences in these areas are limited, yet more and more proposals put forward by the Commission indicate a systematic drive to secure greater decision-making powers at EU level. In particular, since the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the Commission’s initiatives relating to the defence industry, while not formally changing the competences laid down in the Treaties, have de facto extended the EU’s influence in these areas through financial and regulatory instruments. Therefore, the Commission’s actions aimed at shaping public opinion and influencing the public debate in Member States on security and defence issues raise serious legal and ethical concerns.
In light of the foregoing:
How many contracts has the Commission concluded, for what amounts and in which countries for lobbying activities for its initiatives in the area of Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and the arms industry in the Member States?
Submitted: 6.5.2025
- [1] According to the media, the Commission used European taxpayers’ money to commission lobbying activities aimed at influencing the views of MEPs. https://www.lepoint.fr/monde/la-commission-europeenne-a-paye-des-ong-pour-faire-son-lobbying-sur-le-pacte-vert-23-01-2025-2580637_24.php#11