Lobbying at the EU
Who lobbies the European Union?
132 organisations with their headquarters in Croatia are in the European transparency register. They try to influence European laws and decisions. Since December 2024 they have had 53 meetings with the European Commission between them.
What is lobbying? (click to read)
- Lobbying means trying to influence the decisions of politicians and civil servants: through conversations, studies, letters or events. This is allowed and is done by companies, but also by trade unions, environmental organisations and cities.
- Anyone who wants to meet the European Commission or the European Parliament must be in the transparency register and state how much money and how many people are spent on it.
- The amounts are reported by the organisations themselves, in ranges (e.g. "between 1 and 1.25 million euros"). Nobody checks them all.
- A European federation with its headquarters in Brussels often represents companies from all over Europe. That is why there are so many organisations in Belgium.
- We do not show self-employed individuals (people).
Organisations
132
Reported lobbying costs per year
€ 2.1 million – € 4.3 million
Of 80 companies, federations and trade unions that report this.
Access badges for the European Parliament
9
Lobbyists who can walk in freely.
Who are they?
- Companies 47
- NGOs and citizens’ organisations 44
- Trade and professional federations 14
- Trade unions and professional associations 9
- Consultancies 6
- Other organisations and public institutions 6
- Universities and colleges 3
- Associations of public authorities (e.g. cities and regions) 1
- Think tanks and research institutions 1
- Law firms 1
Biggest lobbying budgets
What they report themselves for lobbying work at the EU, per year.
- Sindikat novinara Hrvatske Trade unions and professional associations € 300,000 – € 400,000
- ENERGIA NATURALIS d.o.o. za ulaganje i upravljanje Companies € 200,000 – € 300,000
- Croatian Chamber of Economy Trade and professional federations € 100,000 – € 200,000
- Udruga društava za upravljanje mirovinskim fondovima i mirovinskih osiguravajućih društava Companies € 100,000 – € 200,000
- Matica hrvatskih sindikata Trade unions and professional associations € 100,000 – € 200,000
- Zagrebački inovacijski centar d.o.o Other organisations and public institutions € 100,000 – € 200,000
- KONČAR - Electrical Industry Inc. for manufacturing and services Companies € 50,000 – € 100,000
- Rheinmetall Unmanned Vehicles Companies € 50,000 – € 100,000
- Croatian Banking Association Trade and professional federations € 50,000 – € 100,000
- Aircash Companies € 50,000 – € 100,000
Most meetings with the European Commission
With commissioners, their private offices or directors-general, since December 2024.
- KONČAR - Electrical Industry Inc. for manufacturing and services Companies 11 meetings
- Croatian Chamber of Economy Trade and professional federations 4 meetings
- CRO STARTUP ECOSYSTEM for promotion of innovation NGOs and citizens’ organisations 3 meetings
- Croatian Employers' Association Trade and professional federations 3 meetings
- WWF Adria - Udruga za zaštitu prirode i očuvanje biološke raznolikosti NGOs and citizens’ organisations 2 meetings
- Rheinmetall Unmanned Vehicles Companies 2 meetings
- Kultura Nova Foundation Other organisations and public institutions 1 meeting
- RIBARSKA ZADRUGA FRIŠKA RIBA Trade and professional federations 1 meeting
- Biom Association NGOs and citizens’ organisations 1 meeting
- Social cooperative Humana Nova NGOs and citizens’ organisations 1 meeting
Source: EU transparency register and meetings of the European Commission with interest representatives (European Commission, reuse allowed with credit to the source). Amounts as reported by the organisations themselves.