Quote from Alex bobby on June 25, 2025, 3:23 AM

Amazon Still Wields Influence in Brussels Despite European Parliament Ban
Transparency International warns of loopholes in EU lobbying rules as Amazon secures 66 meetings with lawmakers despite access ban.

Despite an official ban from entering European Parliament premises, Amazon continues to maintain significant influence over EU policymaking, with at least 66 meetings held with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) over the past year. This revelation comes from data compiled by Transparency International, an anti-corruption group advocating for greater transparency in EU institutions.

A Ban That Didn’t Stop Business As Usual

The US tech and retail giant was banned from the European Parliament in February 2023 after repeated no-shows at committee hearings and factory visits organised by the Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL). These hearings were related to labour rights and working conditions—issues Amazon has long been scrutinised for.

The punishment included revoking access badges for 14 Amazon representatives in Brussels. Yet, the company still managed to have dozens of interactions with EU lawmakers, calling into question the effectiveness of the Parliament’s enforcement mechanisms.

A hearing with EMPL that could allow Amazon to regain its access badges is scheduled for 26 June, though internal disagreements persist over the choice and seniority of speakers from Amazon’s side.

Meetings Continue—Online, Off-Site, and Sometimes Inside

Between June 2024 and June 2025, Amazon held 66 meetings with MEPs, including ten through its cloud services division, Amazon Web Services (AWS). These meetings were often focused on pressing legislative matters like the AI Act, the Digital Euro, and broader digital competitiveness and infrastructure in Europe.

Interestingly, 19 of these meetings were listed as taking place inside the European Parliament, despite the ban. Transparency International suspects these might have involved consultants or third-party representatives, or they could have been virtual meetings mislabeled as in-person events. This ambiguity reflects deeper problems with the current transparency system.

In one noted case, MEP Alexandra Geese (Germany, Greens/EFA) attended a panel featuring Amazon during an event hosted by the German region of North Rhine-Westphalia, alongside major broadcasters like RTL and ARD. In another, MEP Axel Voss (Germany, EPP) joined a broader roundtable involving Amazon to discuss copyright and artificial intelligence.

Political Connections and Lobbying Patterns

The centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) emerged as Amazon’s primary interlocutor, followed by the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and the liberal Renew Europe group. Notably, Jörgen Warborn (Sweden, EPP) met with Amazon representatives five times, more than any other lawmaker. His engagements included discussions on SMEs and digital infrastructure, areas where Amazon’s influence is both relevant and strategic.

Warborn is currently a shadow rapporteur—a lawmaker tasked with drafting alternative opinions—on the Tech Sovereignty Report led by French MEP Sara Knafo (ESN). This adds weight to Amazon’s lobbying efforts in digital policy.

In more specific cases, Kateřina Štechová, Amazon's public policy manager, met with Nikola Bartůšek (Czechia, PfE), while James Waterworth, Amazon's EU policy director, and Italo di Lorenzo, Luxembourg policy lead, met Fernand Kartheiser (Luxembourg, NA) to discuss the company’s expansion in the region.

Transparency Gaps: A Structural Weakness

Transparency International’s report analysed over 31,000 declared meetings between MEPs and lobbyists but revealed serious transparency gaps. A staggering 90 out of 720 MEPs have never declared any meeting with interest groups since taking office—raising red flags about undisclosed lobbying efforts.

The issue is particularly pronounced among far-right parties and non-attached MEPs, where 38% failed to report any meetings. This suggests that Amazon’s actual level of interaction with lawmakers may be significantly higher than reported.

Transparency International has now called on the European Parliament to strengthen its transparency rules, recommending that:

• All meetings, not just scheduled ones, be made public
• MEPs only engage with registered lobbyists
• Monitoring and enforcement of rules be substantially improved

“Under the current system, members are only required to publish scheduled meetings with lobbyists. This represents a major limitation, as meetings can often take place informally,” the organisation said.

A Call for Legislative Integrity

The Amazon case highlights how institutional bans can be easily circumvented if enforcement mechanisms are weak and reporting rules remain toothless. While banning physical access may send a symbolic message, it’s clear that policy influence remains very much alive behind the scenes.

As the EU continues to advance landmark legislation on artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and data governance, the question remains: who gets a seat at the table—and who’s keeping track?

Until the European Parliament tightens the rules and embraces full transparency, big tech companies like Amazon will likely continue to shape EU policy, regardless of their official status in Brussels.

Meta Description:
Despite being banned from EU Parliament premises, Amazon held 66 meetings with MEPs in the past year. Transparency International urges tighter lobbying rules to close loopholes.