Mari Eccles
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Articles by Mari Eccles
EU foundations lobby to slash strict financial oversight
Presented by European Parliament By MARI ECCLES and MAX GRIERA PRESENTED BY Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles, joined this week by top colleague Max Griera, POLITICO’s Parliament correspondent. On the agenda: — Political foundations revolt against what they say is severe bureaucratic financial oversight. — Transparency campaigners warn that big business was too involved in simplification talks. — Toyota wants Made in Europe rules expanded.
EU prosecutors asked to investigate advisory body
The EU’s antifraud watchdog said it has passed on to prosecutors allegations of potential corruption at the European Economic and Social Committee, a Brussels-based body that advises the EU on proposed legislation and policy. OLAF, the antifraud office, received a report from whistleblowers earlier this year saying there was a conflict of interest in the management of funds at the EESC, which is financed by the EU. It has now passed the case to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.
It’s always sunny in Europe
Presented by European Parliament By MARI ECCLES PRESENTED BY Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles, writing to you from an actually-fairly-gloomy Brussels. If our newsletter headline hasn’t convinced you to spend the rest of your Thursday afternoon watching It’s Always Sunny… clips, then do be sure to follow my top colleagues’ reporting from the Council on our live blog.
EU lacks influence(rs): No content creators at leaders’ summit
BRUSSELS — The EU’s idea of getting social media influencers to cover leaders’ summits has not gone according to plan, as no content creators have been invited to this week’s European Council.
Croatian MEP stands down from national party after friends and family attended EU Parliament event
A Croatian MEP stood down from her national party on Thursday after POLITICO revealed her inner circle attended a taxpayer-funded European Parliament event in Strasbourg. Romana Jerković, who sits with the Socialists and Democrats group in the European Parliament, was to face a disciplinary investigation by her SDP party in Croatia. The party leader, Siniša Hajdaš Dončić, said he wanted the SDP presidency to open a disciplinary proceeding with the intention of excluding the MEP.
A complete lack of influence at EU summits
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles. This week: — There won’t be any influencers at next week’s European Council. — A Croatian MEP could be removed from her party after a POLITICO report on her expenses. — Is Ryanair about to leave Brussels’ airline lobby?
Votes blocking far-right from key jobs are final, says EP
LUXEMBOURG — The European Parliament can’t review the secret ballot votes that blocked the far-right from key positions, its lawyers told a court in Luxembourg today. In court, the Parliament’s lawyer, Niklas Görlitz, said: “The results of the vote are definitive.
Croatian MEP’s taxpayer-funded trip to Strasbourg attended by family and friends
Friends and family of a Croatian MEP attended a European Parliament event in Strasbourg for which her office claimed thousands of euros in public money, according to expense claims, photographs and attendance lists seen by POLITICO. The lawmaker and her political grouping have both said they have followed the applicable rules, but the trip — billed as a health policy event — raises questions about how the European Parliament monitors its lawmakers’ spending.
How to get a top Commission job
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles. This week: How the Commission appoints its top people. An MEP’s friends and family went on a taxpayer-funded trip to Strasbourg, and her political group signed off on it. Romanian business is upping its presence in Brussels (after Bucharest was accused of being MIA).
Burn after reading
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles. Regular readers will know how much time I spend on LinkedIn tracking job moves, deciphering subtweets and, on the most thrilling of days, following incredibly petty below-the-line spats between lobbyists I barely know (please send me your favorites).
Ukraine open to grain truce with Russia, deputy PM says
Kyiv is open to a grain truce with Russia, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Vsevolod Chentsov, told POLITICO's Brussels Playbook Live event. “It's a good moment now to sit and talk, and to find a solution,” Chentsov said.
State of the Union winners and losers
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles. On this week’s agenda: We talk you through the industry reactions to Ursula von der Leyen‘s State of the Union speech, including the good, the bad and the very disappointed. Could trade associations face a harder battle when challenging Brussels’ decisions in court?
Everyone wants a line in the State of the European Union speech
BRUSSELS — Walk through the EU Quarter of Brussels and you’ll see posters plastered on walls and telephone poles asking European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to give animal welfare a starring role in her State of the European Union address. “Your words matter,” the posters read. “Include animals in your speech.” As von der Leyen prepares for her big speech on Sept.
EU’s AI envoy pick probed by watchdog
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles, using the three waking minutes I haven’t spent at a back-to-school gathering this week by daring to dream of a European tour by Oasis. Definitely maybe on the agenda today: — The EU watchdog is investigating von der Leyen’s controversial pick for AI envoy.
EU watchdog probes von der Leyen’s AI envoy pick
The EU ombudsman has opened an inquiry into the European Commission’s appointment of Siemens chairman Jim Hagemann Snabe as special envoy for industrial AI.
Jordan Bardella accuses EU Parliament of far-right ‘paranoia’ in court battle
LUXEMBOURG — The European Parliament has “paranoia” when it comes to the far-right, Jordan Bardella’s lawyer claimed as his client fights to keep his right-hand man on the EU payroll. Bardella took the Parliament to the EU’s General Court over its decision to stop François Paradol from working as a part-time MEP assistant, although the president of France’s far-right National Rally was not present in court on Wednesday.
Power struggle over the EU’s next budget
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES Tips, tales, traumas to influence@politico.eu | View in your browser Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles, powering through the rentrée season with the aid of To Meli’s freddo espresso (or three).
Inside the weird world of Brussels’ niche associations
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles. EU officials who come under fire for private meetings with industry and are unsure of how to cope with the backlash could do worse than take a leaf out of Gwyneth Paltrow’s book.
EU Commission faces questions over meetings with tobacco reps
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles, welcoming you back to a cooler, wetter Brussels. I hope you’ve had a great summer! On this week’s agenda: The European Commission is under pressure from the EU watchdog over meetings between trade officials and tobacco lobbyists. What the cuts at drinks giant Diageo mean for its Brussels office.
What lobbyists can learn from Taylor Swift
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles, bringing you a more light-hearted edition this week as we wind down for the summer. Influence is taking a two-week break — we’ll be back in your inbox on August 20! On the menu this week: What can EU lobbyists learn from Taylor Swift?
Commission’s hydrogen bank consultant contracts under fire
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles, writing this week’s edition for the three remaining people still working in Brussels — enjoy. On the menu this week: — NGOs have accused the European Commission of hiring a fossil fuel-linked consultancy to help design its hydrogen bank auctions.
The EU institutions are full of bad behavior — so why does no one report it?
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES Hola and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles, gently extending my sympathies to any English readers today. On the menu this week: The EU imposes “gold standard” whistleblower protections on the bloc’s countries, but staff at the EU’s own institutions don’t benefit from that, say critics. EU prosecutors find there’s “no grounds” to investigate the Green Deal architects over NGO funding.
Cash-for-access row at liberals’ big bash
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES with MAX GRIERA Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles. On the menu this week: — Big pharma companies sponsored ALDE’s yearly bash — and got private facetime with a group of MEPs in return. — How much do young lobbyists in Brussels actually get paid? — MCC Brussels’ funding is in doubt after Hungary orders its parent company to close. ACCESS ALL AREAS?
Orbán’s favorite Brussels think tank eyes new funding after Hungary orders parent organization to close
The EU’s most prominent right-wing think tank, MCC Brussels, is “pursuing a number of options for future funding” after the Hungarian government ordered its parent organization to close by the end of the month. The Hungarian government ordered the dissolution of the Mathias Corvinus Collegium Foundation, effective July 31, according to a document signed by the office of Deputy Prime Minister Bálint Ruff.
Węgierska siatka szpiegowska była w Brukseli tajemnicą poliszynela. Budapeszt chciał mieć wgląd w działania Komisji Europejskiej
Dokument, datowany na kwiecień tego roku, podsumowuje ustalenia śledztwa prowadzonego przez Piotra Serafina, komisarza do spraw budżetu, zwalczania nadużyć finansowych i administracji publicznej, który miał zbadać zarzuty dotyczące prób rekrutowania urzędników unijnych przez węgierskich oficerów wywiadu pracujących przy Stałym Przedstawicielstwie w Brukseli w połowie zeszłej dekady. Ekspert obala mity o Unii Europejskiej. Korytarze w Brukseli zna jak własną kieszeń.
Industry boss on the EU: They’re now listening
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles. On this week’s menu: EU policymakers have started listening to industry, says the new head of the continent’s biggest business lobby. Trade unions privately lobbied the EU to water down its tobacco tax plans. Hungarian spies operating from the permanent representation in Brussels did target EU officials, a document obtained by POLITICO shows.
Hungarian spy ring targeted EU officials, Commission investigation finds
BRUSSELS — A Hungarian spy ring operated out of the country's embassy in Brussels and its work intensified in 2015, according to a European Commission document seen by POLITICO.
A question for consultants: Apprentices or AI?
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES Hello and welcome to EU Influence. I’m Mari Eccles. This week we’re considering: — Whether AI will spell the end of public affairs as we know it. — If a celebrity endorsement can sway a policymaker’s views on a file. — How Brussels events are coping (or not) with the heat.
EU wants influencers to cover its summits — but only if they love the bloc
BRUSSELS — Influencers will be able to film content while top EU leaders meet in Brussels — as long as they don’t question the bloc’s values. That’s according to guidance sent by the Council of the EU to national governments earlier this month, seen by POLITICO. POLITICO reported last month that the Council plans to invite social media influencers to cover EU leaders’ summits in Brussels and certain ministerial meetings, starting in July.
The EU Parliament’s shadow lobbyists
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles. Readers of this newsletter probably don’t need another reason to spend more time on LinkedIn, but consider this heartwarming tale that did the rounds this week: When the football association of Cape Verde reached out to Irish-born defender Roberto Lopes on LinkedIn, he did what many of us do when we get an unsolicited message — ignore it.
All hail our cash-rich German overlords
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles. Is there anything that screams Brussels bubble more than the ubiquitous EPP umbrella sported by Eurocrats of every political persuasion? Consultant Nicolas Acker posed this question on LinkedIn earlier this week, noting that it’s something of a PR masterstroke in a city as rainy as Brussels.
EU should have given public greater access to Covid contracts, court adviser says
The European Commission should have been more transparent with the public about its multimillion-euro Covid vaccine contracts, an EU court adviser said.
EU Parliament hosted event by group accused of being a pro-Russian sect that believes aliens walk among us
BRUSSELS — A group accused of being pro-Russian and promoting pseudoscience and conspiracy theories involving aliens was given the green light to hold an event in the European Parliament in Brussels.
Close encounters of the parliamentary kind
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles, contemplating whether to start filing shorter newsletters to project an air of mystery.
Big Tech’s face-time with the European Parliament
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles, valiantly bringing you this newsletter despite the challenging working conditions (it’s too hot to function). This week we’re pondering: Why the European Parliament’s top officials are so keen to meet with tech CEOs. The future of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change in Brussels, and what AI means for public affairs.
EUCO content creators ‘won’t replace EU journalists,’ says influencer
BRUSSELS — Influencers attending high-level EU meetings of ministers and leaders will not be replacing journalists, a content creator working with the Council of the EU said. Pietro Valetto, a 27-year-old influencer, has been invited to the Council next week for what was dubbed an “exclusive experience” in which creators will get to see behind the scenes at the EU institution.
Influencing the influencers
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles. On the menu this week: We sit down with one of the content creators the Council is hoping will spark interest in the institution. Winning merger approval is no longer just about the legal and economic arguments you make: it’s the story you can tell DG COMP (which is great news for lobbyists).
E&E News: Fire sparked after drone strike at UAE nuclear plant
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Fire sparked after drone strike at UAE nuclear plant
A drone strike caused a fire on the perimeter at the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi officials said Sunday.
Pope Leo launches AI commission
Pope Leo XIV is creating a commission on artificial intelligence, a new Vatican body aimed at coordinating the Catholic Church’s response to AI. The move comes ahead of Pope Leo’s first encyclical, or pastoral letter, which is expected to prioritize an ethics-based approach to AI.
WHO declares global health emergency over Ebola outbreak
The World Health Organization has declared a global health emergency over the Ebola outbreak that has killed a suspected 80 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Neighboring countries sharing land borders with the DRC are at "high risk for further spread," the WHO warned. The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo virus, which is harder to treat and for which there is no vaccine. There were 246 suspected cases in the DRC as of May 16, the WHO said.
EU Commission’s structure leaves Brussels green campaigners dazed and confused
BRUSSELS — Ursula von der Leyen’s European Commission structure is proving a headache for green and equality advocates, who say industry has a smoother path to lobbying the institution. With many portfolios split among commissioners, it’s increasingly difficult to reach the right person to try to shape legislation, the advocates told POLITICO’s EU Influence newsletter.
EUCOmaxxing: Influencers to be invited to EU summits
BRUSSELS — Next time you’re doomscrolling on TikTok or Insta, you might come across influencers spilling the tea on ministerial policy discussions or what leaders are having for dinner during their summits. European diplomats attending the working party on information last week were left, well, shooketh when officials from the Council of the EU suggested countries invite social media influencers to cover meetings of the bloc’s ministers and leaders.
The pitfalls of lobbying the Commission (as a climate campaigner)
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles, enjoying this excoriating review of a global health conference from the normally mild-mannered The Lancet. While it’s about a specific event, the criticisms might ring true to Brussels conference attendees. “If you cannot find a woman panellist, it is probably because they do not exist.” “Throw in a youth panellist for a ‘fresh perspective’.
Boosting the cash pot for political foundations
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles, reconsidering my long-held ambivalence toward the concept of monarchy after spending King’s Day in Amsterdam and wondering why we don’t introduce a similarly debauched celebration to Belgium?
Playing hide and seek with the public
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU.
EU Parliament’s reputation at stake in access debate, new anti-fraud chief says
BRUSSELS — A debate over how far OLAF can go in searching the European Parliament is putting the reputation of both institutions on the line, the head of the EU anti-fraud body has warned. Petr Klement, OLAF’s new director general, said the watchdog is still struggling to get the access it needs to properly investigate alleged wrongdoing in the institution, and called for greater clarity over the powers of investigators.
Sur la sellette, le think tank bruxellois préféré d’Orbán n’a pas dit son dernier mot
BRUXELLES — Le think tank populiste de Bruxelles cher à Viktor Orbán doit lutter pour sa survie, après que le nouveau Premier ministre hongrois, Péter Magyar, a promis de réduire son financement. Mais son travail se poursuivra, affirment ses dirigeants. L’organisation est prête à résister à la pression politique, ont indiqué à POLITICO les partisans et les détracteurs de MCC Brussels.
Hungary’s web of U.S-linked think tanks
A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES with MAX GRIERA Hello and welcome to EU Influence! I’m Mari Eccles. This week you find me (like every week) endlessly scrolling LinkedIn for job moves and chuckling at a rare self-deprecating post [h/t ePure’s Craig Winneker]. In today’s edition: We take a trip to Budapest to consider the future of the conservative think tanks that incoming Prime Minister Péter Magyar has promised to quash.
Orbán’s favorite Brussels think tank may be down, but it’s not out
BRUSSELS ― The populist Brussels think tank beloved by Viktor Orbán faces a fight for survival after incoming Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar vowed to cut funding — but its work will continue, its leaders say. The organization is braced to weather the political pressure, supporters and detractors of MCC Brussels told POLITICO, with alternative funding avenues, potential legal recourse and continued demand for its conservative Euroskeptic agenda expected to sustain it.
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