Balanced expert groups

EU commission urged to improve expert group 'transparency'

Publication date: 
mercredi, September 5, 2012
Author: 
Martin Banks
Media title: 
Parliament Magazine

"The European commission has been accused of failing to recognise the "full scale" of the problem of an alleged lack of transparency in its expert groups. The claim was made by the Brussels-based group ALTER-EU, which has demanded a "fairer" composition of the groups which provide the commission with external expertise for its decision making."

ALTER-EU urges MEPs to demand real change in Commission's expert groups

ALTER-EU, together with the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour (AK), the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) and the European Public Services Union (EPSU) today sent a letter to MEPs in the Budget committee urging them to vote against a new demand from the Commission to lift the reserve on 20% of the budget for expert groups on Thursday 6 September.

NGOs denounce over-representation of industry

Publication date: 
mardi, July 10, 2012
Author: 
Ophélie Spanneut
Media title: 
EUROPOLITICS

Two-thirds of the advisory groups that work with the European Commission's DG Enterprise and Industry are dominated by big business interests that hold at least half the non-governmental seats.

Who’s driving the agenda at DG Enterprise and Industry?

Publication date: 
mardi, July 10, 2012
Author: 
Lead author: Yiorgos Vassalos Co-authors: Athena Christofi, Natacha Cingotti, Timo Lange, Rachel Tansey

The Commission’s advisory groups provide expert advice on specific issues, which is often used to shape new policies or even to form the backbone of new legislation. The Commission’s reliance on advice from big business within these groups has previously been criticised, with MEPs urging action to ensure more balance.

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Industry experts dominate key areas of policy making: new research finds 2/3 of DG Enterprise’s advisory groups corporate-dominated

Publication date: 
mardi, July 10, 2012
Press release issued by: 
The Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation (ALTER-EU)

New report examines the composition of DG Enterprise and Industry expert groups. Among its findings, the shocking conclusion that there are 482 corporate lobbyists versus only 11 union representatives.

 

Who’s driving the agenda at DG Enterprise and Industry?

Publication date: 
mercredi, June 27, 2012
Who's driving DG ENTR agenda?
Start date: 
mar, 2012-07-10 13:00
Location: 
Passage of Résidence Palace Rue de la Loi 155, 1040 Brussels

ALTER-EU will present its new report providing an analysis of DG Enterprise and Industry’s expert groups. The report shows how corporate interests dominate a significant proportion of expert groups, while other interests groups, such as civil society groups, labour unions and small and medium enterprises are hardly heard.

Press Launch, organised by the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour, the Austrian Trade Union Federation and Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation (ALTER-EU).

MEPs Monica Macovei (Romania, EPP) and Dennis de Jong (The Netherlands, GUE/NGL) have confirmed their presence on the panel and will share their views on how the Parliament and Commission can work together to improve expert groups’ transparency and balance. 

Lluís PRATS Acting Director of DG Enterprise's Directorate Resources and Communication will represent the European Commission

 

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