Lobbying at the EU
Who lobbies the European Union?
135 organisations with their headquarters in Bulgaria are in the European transparency register. They try to influence European laws and decisions. Since December 2024 they have had 44 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
135
Reported lobbying costs per year
€ 4.3 million – € 7.4 million
Of 82 companies, federations and trade unions that report this.
Access badges for the European Parliament
3
Lobbyists who can walk in freely.
Who are they?
- NGOs and citizens’ organisations 52
- Companies 38
- Trade and professional federations 20
- Universities and colleges 7
- Other organisations and public institutions 6
- Think tanks and research institutions 4
- Consultancies 4
- Trade unions and professional associations 3
- Associations of public authorities (e.g. cities and regions) 1
Biggest lobbying budgets
What they report themselves for lobbying work at the EU, per year.
- Tourist Service Rent a car EOOD Companies € 700,000 – € 800,000
- KONFEDERATSIA NA TRUDA PODKREPA SDRUZHENIE NGOs and citizens’ organisations € 400,000 – € 500,000
- Digital Innovation Hub Trakia NGOs and citizens’ organisations € 300,000 – € 400,000
- БМФ Порт Бургас Companies € 200,000 – € 300,000
- Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association Trade and professional federations € 200,000 – € 300,000
- National Youth Forum-Bulgaria NGOs and citizens’ organisations € 200,000 – € 300,000
- NATSIONALNA ELEKTRICHESKA KOMPANIA EAD Other organisations and public institutions € 100,000 – € 200,000
- Glavbolgarstroy Holding AD Companies € 100,000 – € 200,000
- БЪЛГАРСКА БРАНШОВА АСОЦИАЦИЯ ПЪТНА БЕЗОПАСНОСТ Trade and professional federations € 100,000 – € 200,000
- Сдружение "Консултативен съвет за Черно море" NGOs and citizens’ organisations € 100,000 – € 200,000
Most meetings with the European Commission
With commissioners, their private offices or directors-general, since December 2024.
- Център за изследване на демокрацията / Center for the Study of Democracy Think tanks and research institutions 10 meetings
- First Investmant Bank Companies 3 meetings
- NATSIONALNA ELEKTRICHESKA KOMPANIA EAD Other organisations and public institutions 3 meetings
- Bulgarian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association Trade and professional federations 3 meetings
- Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Universities and colleges 2 meetings
- Nemetschek OOD Companies 2 meetings
- AES Maritza East I Services EOOD Companies 1 meeting
- Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association Trade and professional federations 1 meeting
- Bulgarian Association of Asset Management Companies Trade and professional federations 1 meeting
- BDA ACI Bulgaria 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.