Public Affairs
Zelenskyy hires US law firm for sanctions advice
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office has hired an American law firm to advise on Western sanctions imposed after Russia's invasion and help engage with US officials on policy matters, according to a filing with the US Justice Department.
Chief EU auditor defends himself against mismanagement allegations
In response to an investigation by a French newspaper, Klaus-Heiner Lehne of the European Court of Auditors defended himself and his colleagues against the allegations in front of the budget control committee of the European Parliament. He did not rule out taking the case to court.
German industry gears up for its next lobbying battle: the internal combustion engine
While German carmakers unveil their latest electric vehicles at the International Motor Show in Munich, the industry associations they are members of have made their position clear: the next German government must fight for the internal combustion engine at EU level.
Google, Facebook, Microsoft top EU lobbying spending
Alphabet Inc's Google unit, Facebook Inc and Microsoft Corp are the three biggest lobbying spenders in Europe in a battle against tough new laws aimed at curbing US tech giants' powers, a study released on Tuesday (31 August) showed.
Presidencies for sale?
The practice of multinational companies sponsoring the governments which hold the EU's rotating presidency, while lobbying the same ministers, is a rotten practice that must stop, write Vicky Cann, Suzy Sumner, and Manuel Araujo.
Controversial lobbyists raise eyebrows in Strasbourg
A non-profit group has been raising eyebrows in the Council of Europe for its questionable lobbying activities, a British lawmaker told EURACTIV.
Italian government faces criticism for hiring McKinsey over EU funds
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi's government is facing criticism for hiring consulting giant McKinsey to help it rewrite plans for spending the European Union funds aimed at rebuilding the economy.
Czech PM ditches Trump-inspired social media profile after Capitol assault
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš removed his red "Strong Czechia" hat inspired by US President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" cap from his social media accounts on Thursday after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building.
Think tanks and ethics – a contradiction in terms?
Think tanks play an important role in our democracies, in policy-making and in public opinion, but black sheep tarnish the reputation of the whole sector. Developing and adhering to ethical principles could be a step forward but this needs to be incentivised, through funding and capacity building, writes Fabian Zuleeg.
Jean-Claude Van Damme saves life of puppy in fake pet passport row
Action movie star Jean-Claude Van Damme has come to the rescue of a three-month-old chihuahua, saving her from euthanasia on Monday (19 October) after a legal tussle between Norway and Bulgaria.
BlackRock case: Putting an end to conflicts of interest at European level
BlackRock's controversial contract to advise the European Commission should be put on hold and new transparency criteria introduced to prevent such conflicts of interest, writes Aurore Lalucq and a group of 58 MEPs.
Bronze statue of Melania Trump unveiled in Slovenia
A life-size rough bronze sculpture of US first lady Melania Trump was unveiled near her hometown of Sevnica in southeastern Slovenia on Tuesday (15 September) to replace a wooden figure which was set on fire in July.
EU trade commissioner Hogan mulling candidacy for WTO chief
European trade commissioner Phil Hogan is considering putting his name forward as a candidate to be the next director-general of the World Trade Organization, his spokesman said on Sunday (31 May).
Communication in times of a pandemic
With all events and activities cancelled from March to May (at least), and the planet literally holding its breath following the spread of the virus, what is the role of communication in an organisation that is not standing in the...
EU leaders must stand up to protect the news media sector
An open letter to EU leaders from more than 40 MEPs calls for immediate actions to support Europe's news media sector as it faces up to the sudden loss of advertising revenue caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
‘We’ll meet again’: Queen Elizabeth invokes WW2 spirit to defeat coronavirus
Queen Elizabeth told the British people on Sunday (5 April) that they would overcome the coronavirus outbreak if they stayed resolute in the face of lockdown and self-isolation, invoking the spirit of World War Two in an extremely rare broadcast to the nation.
France moves patients from swamped hospitals as death toll climbs
France used two high-speed trains and a German military plane to move more than three dozen critically ill coronavirus patients on Sunday (29 March) to ease the pressure on overwhelmed hospitals in eastern France.
Amid migrant crisis, Greece-Turkey conflict plays out on social media
Greeks and Turks are waging a proxy war on social media with photos, video and commentary purporting to show the other side behaving badly in a migrant crisis that has seriously strained already tense relations between Athens and Ankara.
MEPs irked by Greta visit despite virus ban
EU lawmakers on Tuesday (3 March) complained that a visit by eco-warrior Greta Thunberg to the European Parliament is set to go ahead despite a moratorium on all outside visits to the chamber.
Communications and identity: A make-or-break year for the EU
With one of its important members seceding, the EU is navigating dangerous and uncharted waters and will need to take a more proactive approach in terms of communication to ensure that the ship stays on course, writes Anthony Spota.
Revolving door rules must be enforced
The latest case of an EU banking official taking a lobbying job in the financial sector underscores the need to uphold rules to prevent revolving doors, write Luis Garicano and Paul Tang.
Oil and gas giants spent 250m on EU lobbying since 2010: green groups
The five biggest publicly listed oil and gas companies and trade groups representing them spent more than 250 million euros lobbying the European Union to influence climate action since 2014, environmental groups said Thursday (24 October).
Proper ethics rules can help bridge gap between citizens and Brussels
Sylvie Goulard’s example illustrates the kind of behaviour which has become unacceptable for European citizens. Europe needs to elevate its conflicts of interest assessment procedure and strictly regulate external activities, writes Manon Aubry.