CORRECTIV: "The pact with the chemical industry" | Corporate Europe Observatory Tens of thousands of unknown, sometimes toxic, chemicals are floating in the Rhine. Why is industry allowed to discharge them unhindered? A top manager of a major corporation reveals how industry cont...

Recently @correctiv.org have been publishing some important investigations into chemical pollution in Germany and the Netherlands.

We are very pleased to publish this translation of their article "The pact with the chemical industry".

corporateeurope.org/en/2026/04/c...

Should you be curious & need an intro to the deregulation campaign unfolding in the EU, or do you want a thorough analysis of how corporate lobby groups set the agenda, this report may be what you are looking for!

See the report links between the deregulation laws/omnibuses and corporate demands.

Dearest Readers,

The invitations have been delivered, silver has been polished, and the 270+ signatories of the #AntwerpCounterSummit are officially adjusting their silks. 🖋️

⏰ But the guest is... missing?

Is the President's dance card already full of corporate interests?
bit.ly/AntwerpCount...

We are so much better at fighting corporate capture that we are at making videos! Still, we hope you have enjoyed this series of explainers.

Should we continue to do it? If so, what topics should we talk about next? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Inside Florida’s decision to cut thousands off from affordable AIDS drugs Former employees, health experts and AIDS health advocates say the state is kneecapping the program far beyond what would be necessary to deal with rising costs.

#Greenland said no to #Trump's hospital ship, so here's some free advice to him: send it to Florida instead. There, a health crisis is brewing, due to cuts and to structural probs linked to the profits-based health care system. www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...

I will never forget the immense contribution, Susan gave my organisation (CEO) over the years. And everything she did for the ATTAC movement, including in my country. Quite a loss. So sad.

Corporate lobbyists in the EU are very successful. If you're not up to reading reports about it, here's a podcast that may help.

I am talking to Licia Cianetti, Birmingh. Uni. and I am explaining the experiences of my group, Corporate Europe Observatory.

newbooksnetwork.com/how-corporat...

Who lobbies the EU?
Not just corporations — but a whole ecosystem of actors:
NGOs and trade unions, but mostly corporate lobbyists, trade and industry groups, consultancies, law firms, and think tanks.

🔦It’s time to shine a light on their murky world!
Watch the 3rd video of our new series.

While Trump boasts and flexes his muscles with Tech Bros and other allies in Davos, EU governments are meeting to discuss how to respond to his plans to take over Greenland and his trade war.

Will they rise to the challenge, or will they once again bow to Trump?

Here’s what they should do:

Beautiful demos in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg, Viborg, Odense, Nuuk and Ilulisaat today against Trump's threats. Thank you to the Greenlandic groups behind the initiative.

Someone said the Cph Town Hall Square has'nt been that full since DK won the European football championship in 1992!

☠️ New GMOs: The result of last night comes down to a massive handout of our foodchain to pesticide firms like Bayer and BASF.

This is a vast #deregulation:
🚨scrapping safety standards,
🚨scrapping consumer freedom to choose
🚨creating more dependence for farmers through patents

Handover to S&D shadow rapporteur Mr Clergeau MEP

Handover to Anja Hazekamp MEP office

Meeting with staff at Danish Permanent Representation (now Presidency of the EU)

Crunchtime: tonight last planned negotiation on deregulation of new GM food (#NGTs): will negotiators Jessica Polfjard and Denmark allow for no safety, no consumer choice, but patented food? Save Our Seeds, FOEE, Solidagro and CEO handed over 500K signatures from citizens who want freedom of choice.

ALT text: Promotional poster for the European premiere of the documentary The Scramble for Hydrogen in South Africa, co-organized by Corporate Europe Observatory and Lava. The background shows a person standing on a barren, sandy landscape under a grey sky. Text reads: The Scramble for Hydrogen in South Africa – European Premiere Thursday, 27 November 2025, 19:00–21:00 Cinema Vendôme, Chau. de Wavre 18, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium Programme: • Welcome + screening • Panel discussion • Drinks (Bar ZonnekloP) Free registration! Logos for Corporate Europe Observatory and Lava appear in the top left corner.

🍿Last chance to catch the premiere of CEO’s documentary “The Scramble for Hydrogen in South Africa” featuring the voices and stories of some of the most affected communities in South Africa that are being ignored by EU politicians.

📅 27Nov
📍 Cinema Vendôme, Brussels
👉 corporateeurope.org/en/event/4

uropean Commission "Clean Industrial Deal" website banner, with “Clean” crossed out in red, and replaced with “Dirty”, followed by “FAQs Part IV: Hydrogen & CCS”

THREAD: 1/6

Part IV of our FAQs on the EU’s not-so-Clean Industrial Deal is out 🕵️‍♀️ taking a closer look at its support of two fossil fuel industry favourite false solutions: hydrogen and carbon capture👇

corporateeurope.org/en/2025/11/d...

Ein Europa des Kapitals - Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Über die Einflussnahme von Unternehmen auf die EU-Politik – und wie man dagegen vorgehen kann

"Ein Europa des Kapitals" - the title of the German version of my book about the EU and corporate power. Now out, available here: www.rosalux.de/publikation/...

I am so grateful to the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung for doing first an English and a German version.

In Berlin next week for a presentation.

Deregulation Watch | Corporate Europe Observatory Check out our new posts on Deregulation Watch which helps civil society monitor new developments in the deregulation agenda, assess what’s at stake, and organise in defence of strong social, environme...

The EU’s #deregulation machine is running full-speed - and the Commission isn't keen on letting the public see how it works

In less than a year the Commission had 605 meetings with lobbyists on ‘simplification’ but #transparency is deeply insufficient

New post: corporateeurope.org/en/deregulat...

🎥 Film screening + debate 🎥

What: special preview screening of CEO's new doc on community resistance to the EU's green hydrogen drive. Followed by a debate + drinks 🍻
Where: Mundo Matonge, BXL
When: 19h00
With: @rosaluxstiftung.bsky.social @counter-balance.bsky.social @attacdeutschland.bsky.social

Não este tipo de Europa, por favor Precisamos do envolvimento cívico para livrar Bruxelas da mania da desregulamentação que domina a agenda actual, colocando as pessoas e o planeta em perigo.

You can also read @kennethhaar.bsky.social 's oped in 🇵🇹, 🇪🇸, 🇬🇧 (below)

"Precisamos do envolvimento cívico para livrar Bruxelas da mania da desregulamentação que domina a agenda actual, colocando as pessoas e o planeta em perigo", lê aqui o artigo em Pt no @publico.pt

www.publico.pt/2025/09/18/a...

No esa clase de Europa, por favor Necesitamos la participación ciudadana para librar a Bruselas de la manía desreguladora que domina la agenda actual y pone en peligro a las personas y al planeta.

"Necesitamos la participación ciudadana para librar a Bruselas de la manía desreguladora que domina la agenda actual y pone en peligro a las personas y al planeta", puedes leer el artículo de @kennethhaar.bsky.social en @elsaltodiario.com en castellano.

👉 www.elsaltodiario.com/tribuna/no-c...

Not that kind of Europe, please | Corporate Europe Observatory We need civic involvement to rid Brussels of the deregulation mania that dominates the current agenda, putting people and planet in peril. Op ed by Kenneth Haar.

If your Czech, Portuguese and Castillian are rusty, you can also read it in English 👉 corporateeurope.org/en/2025/09/n...

We need civic involvement to rid Brussels of the deregulation mania that dominates the current agenda, putting people and planet in peril. Op ed by @kennethhaar.bsky.social .

‘Climate action is too costly’: how the far right and big business are weaponising social instability to block progress Far-right parties and industry lobbies across Europe exploit economic insecurity to undermine climate policies, claiming a choice between green transition and social justice. But researchers stress bo...

Can you have both social justice and tackle climate change?

Of course.

But the European far right is spreading the myth
that we have to choose (actually, they want neither).

Great piece from VoxEurop @stellalevantesi.bsky.social with contributions from me/CEO.

voxeurop.eu/en/climate-a...

How trade tariffs and deregulation go hand in hand | Corporate Europe Observatory Listen to the brand new podcast episode, where Kenneth Haar discusses the link between the announced trade tariffs from the USA to the EU and deregulation.

Before 1 Aug. the EU has to do a trade deal with Trump to avoid steep tariffs on exports.

Tough language is used, but the EU is actually giving big concessions.

Understand what is going in from our latest podcast, and see examples below

corporateeurope.org/en/2025/07/h...

The Trump camp have put unacceptable demands to the EU for him to cool the trade war: deregulate to please US corporations. Unfortunately, some of it fits hand in glove with the EUs own deregulation agenda.

Hear me talk to my great colleagues Joana and Marcella about that in this podcast.

On the left of this cartoon is a small box labelled ‘small company’ with an arrow labelled ‘over-declares lobby spending’. Below this is a large box labelled ‘massive company’ with an arrow which says ‘under-declares lobby spending’. On the right is a distorted picture of a man with a tie holding a briefcase and it is labelled ‘EU lobby register – A distorted picture of lobbying’. Cartoon by @CartoonRalph.

In Feb we & @lobbycontrol.bsky.social complained about likely under- & over-reporting in EU lobby register.

Secretariat has now come back with outcome which shows €47 millions-worth of changes

💶 €2,450,000 added
💶 €23,145,000 taken off
💶 €22,150,000 removed

corporateeurope.org/en/complaint...

Today it was announced that the far right group Patriots for Europe will be in charge of the European Parliament's negotiations on the 2040 climate targets.

Well. What could possibly go wrong.

Worth noting, that without the support from conservative EPP group, the far right would be check-mate.

On the wider #Chemicals Industry Action Plan, it seems clear that the toxics industry will be celebrating

1/2 We've made it to Strasbourg 🇫🇷🥖🧀 👔

Tomorrow @corporateeurope.org will be in the EU Parliament for a preview screening of our new documentary 🎥 The Scramble for Hydrogen in South Africa 🎥 See the teaser here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AATC...

If you're in Strasbourg, join us! Deets below

Military spending splurge ‘risk factor’ for EU economy, says Denmark - Euractiv Stephanie Lose told Euractiv that Europe’s defence build-up must be combined with “wise decisions” to lower debt and deficit levels.

There is a strong chance we will see severe cuts in welfare across the EU in the coming years. Many member states already in dire straits, and now comes a wave of rearmament spending

The Danish EU Presidency began last week. They will not be of any help, for sure

www.euractiv.com/section/econ...

New data on top recipients of EU research funding in recent years: Airbus, Thales, Safran, Leonardo.

Holy smoke! Arms companies snatch the brunt!

And in a blunt rephrasing of the report: the support is not efficient. It is crude handouts to big corporations.

🚨 NEW POLL: roughly TWICE as many people in France, Germany & Spain want the EU to break up Big Tech giants, as those who don't.

@ec.europa.eu will soon decide whether to dismantle Google's toxic adtech monopoly. Will it listen to EU citizens and #BreakUpBigTech?

peoplevsbig.tech/large-majori...