are there on average 70 lobbyists per MEP, as Manon Aubry states?

In the campaign for the European elections, the head of the La France insoumise list Manon Aubry assures that there are “on average 70 lobbyists per MEP”. It’s true. Lobbying is legal and is an integral part of the functioning of European bodies.

“Brussels is lobbyland”. In the campaign for the European elections, the head of the list for La France insoumise, Manon Aubry, ensures, Tuesday April 23, that there is “on average 70 lobbyists per MEP”. True or false ?

Around 50,000 lobbyists for 705 MEPs

It’s true. There are exactly 12,425 organizations registered as lobbyists in Brussels, according to the latest report from the “transparency register”, which lists them. Around 50,000 lobbyists work for these organizations, according to the latest European Parliament census. A figure also put forward by the anti-corruption NGO Transparency International. If we divide 50,000 by the number of MEPs (705 MEPs in the current mandate), we obtain an average of 70 lobbyists per MEP.

These lobbyists do not only interact with members of Parliament, but also with the Commission or the European Council. These are companies (like Google or L’Oréal), unions, associations (like the Pasteur Institute) and even universities. They seek to influence decisions taken within European institutions.

A legal and supervised activity

This practice is legal, it is even an integral part of the functioning of European bodies. Political representatives listen to different points of view and receive specific insights on certain subjects. Lobbyists therefore organize breakfasts or conferences. They write press releases and sometimes even draft ready-made proposed amendments.

Lobbying in Brussels is regulated. In particular, there is a “transparency register”, common to Parliament, the Commission and the European Council since 2011. This is a database which lists lobbies and their activities. Organizations must disclose their interests, expenses, sources of income. The objective is to inform citizens. Lobbyists registered on this register undertake to respect a “code of conduct”, which stipulates, for example, that it is forbidden to “pressure” political representatives or buy their votes. Investigations and sanctions are also planned for lobbies registered on the register and which do not respect the rules.

The limits of control

After the “Qatargate” corruption scandal, for which MEPs and their entourages are suspected of having received money from Morocco and Qatar in exchange for European decisions in their favor, the supervision of lobbies was strengthened. MEPs, for example, must now declare their meetings with lobbyists. Certain activities are also prohibited within the European institutions without being registered on the “transparency register”, but there remain blind spots: to obtain a badge in Parliament or to meet commissioners, you must be registered on this register, but it is not obligatory, for example, to have a drink alone with a MEP in a café in Brussels. The European Court of Auditors has just issued a report highlighting the limits of the “transparency register”.