BRUSSELS ― A far-right member of the European Parliament’s question to the European Commission was partly drawn up by a lobbyist — which was discovered because no one removed the document’s track changes.
When Jana Nagyová, of the group Patriots for Europe, wrote to other members of the European Parliament to ask for their support in signing her question, the attachment revealed the input of Rob Vierhout — a vice president at ethanol producer Alcogroup.
Transparency campaigners say such behavior risks leading to covert influence from lobbyists without the public’s knowledge.
Written inquiries to the EU executive, which commissioners are required to answer, are normally used by MEPs to raise issues that are significant in their home country or among their political allies.