Lobbying at the EU
Who lobbies the European Union?
270 organisations with their headquarters in Romania are in the European transparency register. They try to influence European laws and decisions. Since December 2024 they have had 66 meetings with the European Commission between them.
What is lobbying? (click to read)
- Lobbying means trying to influence the decisions of politicians and civil servants: through conversations, studies, letters or events. This is allowed and is done by companies, but also by trade unions, environmental organisations and cities.
- Anyone who wants to meet the European Commission or the European Parliament must be in the transparency register and state how much money and how many people are spent on it.
- The amounts are reported by the organisations themselves, in ranges (e.g. "between 1 and 1.25 million euros"). Nobody checks them all.
- A European federation with its headquarters in Brussels often represents companies from all over Europe. That is why there are so many organisations in Belgium.
- We do not show self-employed individuals (people).
Organisations
270
Reported lobbying costs per year
€ 10.5 million – € 16.5 million
Of 158 companies, federations and trade unions that report this.
Access badges for the European Parliament
16
Lobbyists who can walk in freely.
Who are they?
- NGOs and citizens’ organisations 114
- Companies 66
- Trade unions and professional associations 27
- Trade and professional federations 22
- Consultancies 13
- Think tanks and research institutions 10
- Universities and colleges 8
- Law firms 4
- Other organisations and public institutions 4
- Churches and religious or philosophical communities 1
- Associations of public authorities (e.g. cities and regions) 1
Biggest lobbying budgets
What they report themselves for lobbying work at the EU, per year.
- Asociatia Clubul Fermierilor Romani pentru Agricultura Performanta NGOs and citizens’ organisations € 1 million – € 1.3 million
- VASILESCU DEJAN SPARL Law firms € 900,000 – € 1 million
- Romanian Airports Association NGOs and citizens’ organisations € 800,000 – € 900,000
- Asociatia Industriei de Protectia Plantelor din Romania NGOs and citizens’ organisations € 700,000 – € 800,000
- Confederația Națională Sindicală Cartel ALFA Trade unions and professional associations € 600,000 – € 700,000
- S.C. Verde Magnesium S.R.L. Companies € 500,000 – € 600,000
- Romanian Pension Funds' Association (APAPR) Trade unions and professional associations € 500,000 – € 600,000
- Asociatia Nationala a Bibliotecarilor si Bibliotecilor Publice din Romania NGOs and citizens’ organisations € 500,000 – € 600,000
- Romanian Private Equity Association Trade unions and professional associations € 300,000 – € 400,000
- Societatea Nationala NUCLEARELECTRICA Companies € 200,000 – € 300,000
Most meetings with the European Commission
With commissioners, their private offices or directors-general, since December 2024.
- S.C. Verde Magnesium S.R.L. Companies 7 meetings
- Asociatia ARK ORADEA NGOs and citizens’ organisations 3 meetings
- Confederația Patronală CONCORDIA Trade and professional federations 3 meetings
- BCR Companies 3 meetings
- Asociatia Institutul Aspen Romania NGOs and citizens’ organisations 2 meetings
- ART Fusion NGOs and citizens’ organisations 2 meetings
- Cluj Cultural Centre NGOs and citizens’ organisations 2 meetings
- American Chamber of Commerce in Romania Trade and professional federations 2 meetings
- OMV Petrom SA Companies 2 meetings
- Asociatia Clubul Fermierilor Romani pentru Agricultura Performanta NGOs and citizens’ organisations 2 meetings
Source: EU transparency register and meetings of the European Commission with interest representatives (European Commission, reuse allowed with credit to the source). Amounts as reported by the organisations themselves.