Support Mounts for Ban of Amazon Lobbyists at European Parliament
Pressure is mounting on the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, to bar Amazon’s lobbyists from accessing the corridors of power. Trade unions and civil-society organizations are rallying behind MEPs who demand that Amazon lobbyists be stripped of their parliamentary access.
On February 5th, MEPs from the Employment and Social Affairs Committee sent an official letter to Metsola, urging the withdrawal of lobbying badges from Amazon’s representatives, effectively barring them from the parliament.
This move comes as a response to Amazon’s refusal to engage with the employment committee on issues concerning working conditions within its warehouses. The tech giant declined an invitation to participate in a hearing and had previously refused to testify at a hearing in 2021. Additionally, Amazon canceled a visit by a delegation of MEPs to its warehouses in Germany and Poland. The company’s actions have not gone unnoticed, as it was fined €32 million in France last month for “excessively intrusive” surveillance of its workers.
More than 30 trade unions and civil-society groups have joined forces in support of the MEPs’ demand. In an open letter to Metsola, they expressed concerns over Amazon’s dismissive attitude toward democratic scrutiny and trade unions, along with its hefty investments in lobbying efforts. They are urging Metsola to withdraw all lobbying badges of the company.
It is worth noting that Amazon has allocated €18.8 million towards lobbying European institutions since 2013 and currently employs 14 lobbyists accredited by the European Parliament. A formal complaint has triggered an investigation into irregularities surrounding Amazon’s registration in the Transparency Register.
The mounting pressure on Amazon reflects a larger global movement that precipitated strikes and protests in over 30 countries on Black Friday 2023. The company has been heavily criticized for exploitative labor practices, anti-trust violations, tax avoidance, and environmental negligence. Its refusal to subject itself to parliamentary scrutiny is seen as a direct challenge to democracy.
By demanding the ban of Amazon lobbyists from the European Parliament, MEPs are sending a clear message that the company’s behavior will not be tolerated. Failing to attend a parliamentary hearing is deemed disrespectful and must come with consequences for Amazon.
The united stance of trade unions and civil-society organizations highlights the urgent need to hold corporate entities accountable and reaffirms the commitment to upholding democratic principles within the European Parliament.
The campaign for removing Amazon’s lobbyists from the European Parliament has gained support from prominent figures in the field. Bram Vranken from Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO), Oliver Roethig from UNI Europa, Margarida Silva from the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO), and Max Bank from LobbyControl are among those championing this cause. These individuals are committed to transparency, democratic control, and challenging the undue influence of corporate lobbyists.
Analyst comment
Positive news: Support Mounts for Ban of Amazon Lobbyists at European Parliament.
As an analyst: The demand to ban Amazon’s lobbyists from the European Parliament signals a strong message that the company’s behavior will not be tolerated. With mounting pressure and widespread support from trade unions and civil-society organizations, it is likely that lobbying badges will be withdrawn, barring their access to the parliament. This reflects a growing global movement to hold corporate entities accountable and maintain democratic principles.
