EU Lobbying Spending Soars to 382 Million Euros

European Union institutions faced significant lobbying efforts last year, with corporations and associations spending a total of 382 million euros. This figure represents a substantial increase, with expenditures rising by 50 percent since 2020, a growth rate that notably exceeds inflation.

The analysis, conducted by organizations LobbyControl and Corporate Europe Observatory, highlights the substantial financial commitment from major players. The 173 tech, finance, energy, and chemical corporations, each reporting annual lobbying budgets exceeding one million euros, collectively spent approximately 382 million euros. This spending has seen a seven percent increase since the beginning of 2024 alone, amounting to 27 million euros.

Leading the pack in lobbying expenditures were the tech giants, who invested at least 73 million euros to influence policymakers. Energy companies followed closely, spending 52 million euros, while chemical corporations and industry associations collectively allocated over 46.4 million euros to their lobbying activities. The report indicates that the increase in spending is not solely due to inflation, suggesting a deliberate and intensified effort by these sectors to shape EU policy.