Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Personal tools
Sections
You are here: Home Members Friends of the Earth Europe European poll shows considerable concern about EU ethics

European poll shows considerable concern about EU ethics

31 January 2013
by foeeurope -- last modified 31 January 2013

A majority of people across Europe are concerned about ethics and lobbying in European Union policy-making, and want better regulation of lobbyists, as well as increased transparency of the EU, according to a new opinion poll.


Advertisement

The poll conducted by TNS opinion, and completed by over 6,000 people in six European countries, reveals that three quarters (73%) of respondents are concerned that lobbyists representing the business sector have too much influence on EU decisions. 80% of those surveyed believe there should be mandatory regulation of lobbying to ensure a balanced participation of different interests in decision-making.

The results come at the beginning of the European Year of Citizens, which aims to stimulate dialogue between governments and society, and thereby better engage citizens in debates and decisions that affect them.

Natacha Cingotti from Friends of the Earth Europe said: "The results of this poll should be a wake-up call for European decision-makers. Citizens are clearly asking for compulsory regulation for lobbying. The Parliament should insist that this happens by making the Transparency Register mandatory. This poll also signals that the poor enforcement of the MEP code of conduct negatively affects citizens' confidence. Strict implementation and monitoring of MEPs' second jobs are urgently needed to avoid conflicts of interest."

4 out of 5 people polled (80%) said they feel less confident that an MEP represents the best interests of citizens if they also work for a lobby group or a private company. French respondents (76%) felt the most strongly that MEPs should not be allowed to work for a lobby group or a private company while they are serving as elected representatives.

The survey reflects mounting concerns among the European public about lobbying in Brussels after recent scandals such as that surrounding the resignation of EU Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dalli, which indicated that representatives of the tobacco industry had privileged access to key EU decision-makers. The report which resulted in the resignation has still not been made public.

The poll also reveals a huge demand for greater transparency. 85% of respondents think that full information about Member States' negotiations should be open to the public. In the context of the response to the financial crisis, 84% of people find it important that full documentation about what the European Central Bank is doing is publicly available; this is currently not the case.

"This survey confirms the findings of the EU Citizens project conducted over the past year, namely that members of the public are hungry for more information about what is happening in Brussels, and specifically that they want to know about decision-making and spending: 86% of respondents found it important that detailed financial reports and evaluations on how EU money is spent by member states is made publicly available," said Helen Darbishire, executive director of Access Info Europe.

This survey is part of the EU Citizens project, a joint project between the following organisations: Access Info Europe, Aitec, Environmental Law Service, Friends of the Earth Europe, Health Action International, Spinwatch. The opinion poll is supported by Arbeitskammer Europa (AK Europa).

Friends of the Earth Europe is the largest grassroots environmental network in Europe, uniting more than 30 national organisations with thousands of local groups.

Friends of the Earth
Become a Partner

Partnership gives you:

  • Your own section on EUbusiness.com - with your press releases, position papers, events, job vacancies etc
  • Each content item linked from topic channels where your organisation has expertise
  • Listing on Partners page
  • Branded with your logo and links

For further details on becoming a Partner, contact email salesSales by email, or phone Nick Prag on +44 (0)20 8058 8232.

Membership options