17 March 2020 at 6.30 pm

Press Club, Rue Froissart 95, 1000 Bruxelles

To avert climate breakdown, the vast majority of gas, oil and coal reserves need to stay in the ground. The European Parliament has followed local and national parliaments in declaring a state of climate emergency. The European Commission has responded by tabling a European Green Deal, which should deliver the necessary transformation to transform our societies and bring the era of fossil fuels to an end. 

This Thursday, Members of the European Parliament are due to vote on a rule that, if adopted, would for the first time create a binding obligation for MEPs writing reports and chairing committtees to disclose their lobby meetings.

The lobbying world of Brussels continues increasing. There are now more than 7,000 lobbyists with European Parliament accreditation. That means, almost 10 lobbyists per MEP.

It is no surprise then that at several occasions in the past four years MEPs complained they were the target of extreme lobbying pressure.

Today carefully selected politicians and members of the business community will follow Commissioner Oettinger's invitation to Austria's beautiful Alps for the seventh edition of his 'Mini-Davos' meeting, the Europaforum Lech. A prime example of business' privileged access.