It’s published •update
Amidst an unprecedented movement, conservative US organizations that worked closely with the MAGA movement have lobbyed the MEP.
Members of the Sovereign State Europe (ESN) primarily of non-aligned or far-right parliamentary groups reportedly met with conservative organisations such as the Chilean National Renewal Party and the Republican Party, a think tank of the US Conservative Party Foundation.
“Usually these organizations are very skeptical of the climate, and they are lobbying for fossil fuels,” Rafael Kergeno, policy director for the Transparent International EU, told Euroneuz.
He said these interest groups also oppose technical regulations adopted by the EU in recent years, such as the European Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA), in the name of “freedom of expression.”
Anti-abortion position
ADF International, a US-based anti-abortion organization for Christianity, is also increasingly active in the European Parliament.
“It’s a super conservative Christian organization that opposes abortion, because it’s now a subject that’s been featured at MEPS meetings and now it’s trying to push or persuade MEPS,” Kergueno said.
“Of course they also have a more favorable basis given the outcome of the last election,” he added.
Researchers say abortion is outside the scope of EU capabilities and is a domestic issue determined individually by member states, but these organizations are trying to influence national debates through MEPs.
The report identifies approximately 20 meetings between the MEP and these American conservative organizations.
How many interest groups are there?
In total, over 30,000 meetings between the MEP and the lobbyists were recorded in one year.
“The more you go to the right, the more you see these conservative American groups appearing, and slowly, as you move to the center, you’ll be like a corporate lobbyist,” Kergueno said.
“And then, if you move left, we go to the civil society organization. And if you go left, if you go to the far left, then you’ll see a trade union,” he explained.
Of the 20 most active organizations in the European Parliament, 15 represent commercial interests, with the fossil fuel sector being very active and only five representing NGOs.
