EU expert groups dominated by corporate interest, say NGOs

Four pro-transparency groups and trade unions called on the European Commission to scale back corporate influence on policy-making decisions.

According to a common statement released by these organisations on 29 August 2014, the EC's so-called expert groups were being dominated by industry, which might have “a damaging impact on EU decisions". New rules were therefore needed to address the compositional imbalance of expert groups, the secrecy of decision-making, and the application process to participate in these units.

The statement was signed by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), UNI Europa, EPSU and Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO).

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Ombudsman opens investigation into Commission's expert groups http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-ombudsman-opens-investigation-into-commissions-expert-groups/

ETUC: News, 01.09.14: New Commission must end corporate dominance of EU expert groups http://www.etuc.org/press/new-commission-must-end-corporate-dominance-eu-expert-groups#.VAROnhCN4_8

---