Editor’s blog – The Brussels Business: shining a light on the EU and lobbyists

By Dean Carroll

Despite its position as the world’s most powerful international legislator and the dominance which it exerts other national governments, the European Union is still seen as a niche topic by the media in most EU member states. Ask the man on the street about the activities of the Brussels Bubble and you will also be met with a shrug and a ‘who cares’, in the majority of cases.

But a fascinating documentary The Brussels Business attempts to change the attitude of citizens by shining a light on the estimated 15,000 lobbyists in the Belgian city and their relationships with the European Commission, and the European Parliament. Certainly, as we know, MEPs have suffered more than their fair share of lobbying scandals.

According to the film, the stage is set for further turmoil and a public backlash. Next year’s EP elections could certainly prove to be a critical juncture. And the movie certainly packs a punch in terms of the minutiae of detail that is pored over. But although the film tries to create a narrative of conspiracy with its arty direction and edgy use of cinematography and music, the talking heads – ranging from transparency campaigners Corporate Europe Observatory to public affairs group the European Services Forum and independent academic Dr Maria Green Cowles – never quite deliver the smoking gun.

Much is made of the European Roundtable of Industrialists’ – a group of 40 European multinational chief executives – allegedly disproportionate influence on commission policy-making. But the ERT is not Europe’s answer to the Bilderberg Group. Far from it, the collective has been quite open and honest about its list of demands for politicians and officials – and the ultimatum given when the commission seemed to be wavering about the creation of the single market. Murkier, though, is the lack of transparency at the secretive commission.

My advice to those who feel that the EU is only of marginal relevance to their everyday lives, at best, is to watch this documentary. You might just need to rethink those dismissive attitudes; especially as European economic governance and supranational policy-making gather momentum in order to cope with a globalised world where national governments can have little impact on their own.