EU lobbying spending peaks in tech, finance and energy sectors, report shows
Campaign groups report that digital giants, banks and energy firms are the top spenders on lobbying in the European Union, with tech firms alone allocating €73 million annually.
According to a June report from Corporate Europe Observatory and LobbyControl, lobbying expenditures targeting EU institutions have risen 7.8 percent compared with the previous year, with the digital, banking and energy sectors leading the pack. Major technology firms—including Amazon, Apple and Meta—collectively spend €73 million on EU lobbying, with Meta alone contributing roughly €10 million and maintaining a team of 44 lobbyists in Brussels.
The financial sector follows, allocating €66.7 million, and the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) spends about €6 million as it prepares for upcoming banking regulation debates. Energy companies invest €52 million, while the chemical industry spends €46.5 million, with the European Chemical Industry Council dedicating €12.3 million and employing over 45 full-time lobbyists. The report also notes a diverse range of other interest groups registered in the EU Transparency Register, from potato traders to horse networks.
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Why it matters
Understanding who funds EU lobbying reveals the influence shaping European policy on tech, finance and energy.
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