Unveiling Power Imbalances: Business Associations Outpace NGOs in Influence, According to Lobbycontrol
Assessment by LobbyControl: Corporate Bodies Exercise Undue Influence Over Non-Governmental Organizations - The EU's Economic Policies and Their Environmental Impact: An Assessment by the Commission
When it comes to lobbying, business and professional associations, along with corporate heavyweights, hold a powerful position against non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The most lavish spenders, as assessed by Lobbycontrol, include the Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft (GDV), the Verband der Chemischen Industrie (VCI), and the Bundesverband mittelständische Wirtschaft (BVMW), among others. Notable companies include BASF, Lufthansa, and EnBW. The foreign organization with the highest lobbying funds is Huawei.
In contrast, the 20 largest environmental, nature, and animal protection associations pour roughly 15 times less money into their lobbying efforts, as indicated by Lobbycontrol 1. Their alleged influence, often criticized, is insufficient to nullify these disparities, the organization stated.
Energy sector players dominate the list of high-spending lobbyists. Big names like Uniper, EnBW, and Eon fall under energy generation, trading, and distribution. On the consumer side, BASF, ThyssenKrupp, and Covestro hold significant influence.
"Our evaluation reveals that business lobbying associations and profit-driven companies wield notable financial power, manipulating negotiations to their advantage," remarked Christina Deckwirth of Lobbycontrol [2]. She warns that social concerns lacking a robust lobbying presence risk being sidelined, urging the negotiators of the current Union-SPD coalition talks to evade one-sided lobbying pressure.
Insight:
- While the provided data offers a snapshot of the current disparities between business and NGO lobbying in Germany, a broader EU perspective suggests that large corporations invest substantial resources in lobbying. In the early 2020s, the biggest corporate lobbies in the EU collectively spent at least €343 million annually on lobbying, with sectors like big tech, banking, energy, and chemicals leading the charge [3].
- NGOs consistently spend significantly less on lobbying compared to corporations. For example, green NGOs received €15 million from the EU's LIFE funding program, echoing the substantial gap between corporate and NGO lobbying expenditures [3].
- NGO: Non-governmental organization
- Business association: Groups of businesses organized to influence government policy
- BASF: Chemical corporation
- EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg: Utility company
- ADAC: Automobile association
- Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft: German insurance association
- GDV: German insurance association (abbreviation)
- Verband der Chemischen Industrie: German chemical industry association
- Lufthansa: German airline
- Huawei: Chinese multinational technology company
[2]: Interview with Christina Deckwirth[3]: Corporate Europe Observatory
- Despite the Commission yet to decide on the granting of aid for the construction of a new railway line in the Netherlands, the Verband der Chemischen Industrie (VCI), like other business associations in Germany and the EU, has been known to put forth significant lobbying efforts, as assessed by Lobbycontrol.
- In line with its lobbying activities, the German airline, Lufthansa, especially in collaboration with VCI, has been a notable player in the wirtschaft (economy), exerting influence that high-spending NGOs, for instance, the Vogel- und Tierschutzbund International (VCI) in the Netherlands, might struggle to rival due to their resource constraints.
- Conversely, while the Vogel- und Tierschutzbund International (VCI) and other environmental NGOs in the Netherlands, within the EU, and worldwide do voice their concerns and attempt to make a difference, they face an uphill battle against the financial clout wielded by business associations such as Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft (GDV) and massive corporations like Lufthansa when it comes to lobbying influence, as advocated by Christina Deckwirth of Lobbycontrol.
