From potato chips to silicon chips: Lobbies cover all in Brussels
BRUSSELS, Sept 12 — If there is an industry for it, there will be a lobby group representing its interests in Brus...
In Brussels, the heart of the European Union, every industry imaginable has a lobby group representing its interests. According to civil society groups, the biggest spenders on lobbying EU institutions are the digital, banking, and energy sectors. This year, businesses are set to invest a minimum of €381.7 million (approximately RM1.8 billion) in lobbying efforts, a 7.8 per cent increase from 2025, according to a June report by two campaign groups, Corporate Europe Observatory and LobbyControl.
Big Tech companies, such as Amazon, Apple, and Meta, lead the way in digital sector lobbying, spending a combined €73 million annually in EU-focused lobbying. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, tops the list with around €10 million spent, employing 44 full-time or part-time lobbyists in Brussels.
The digital industry, including Big Tech, has been actively lobbying against stricter rules on artificial intelligence in Europe, benefiting from political support from the US administration. Despite this, the European Union has imposed fines on major tech players.
In contrast, the finance sector, represented by the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME), spends €66.7 million annually on lobbying. AFME is one of the most influential groups in Brussels, preparing for upcoming banking regulations that the European Commission plans to propose, which banks want to shape to their advantage.
The energy and chemical sectors also devote substantial resources to lobbying, with €52 million and €46.5 million annually, respectively. The European Chemical Industry Council, a highly influential trade association, spends €12.3 million a year defending its industry's interests, employing 169 people, including over 45 full-time lobbyists.
A search of the EU's Transparency Register reveals a diverse range of interests represented by lobbying groups, including the European Potato Trade Association, Detergents Europe, the European Snacks Association, and even the European Horse Network.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
