Source: European Parliament
1. The Commission applies strict transparency rules concerning interest representation and publishes information on all meetings held with interest representatives on the transparency websites of the Members of the Commission and/or Directorates-General. As of 1 January 2025, the transparency rules apply to all Commission staff holding management functions. Meetings with public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies, are not covered by these rules (Commission Decisions (EU) 2024/3081 and 2024/3082) .
2. The Commission has a strong ethical framework and governance structure in place to ensure that its Members and its staff respect the highest ethical standards and that its decisions are not unduly influenced, as set out in its communication on Governance in the Commission[1]. It has taken steps to further strengthen its internal transparency framework and is a signatory to the agreement on the interinstitutional ethics body of 15 May 2024 . The Commission has full trust in the work of competent authorities and courts and is ready to cooperate with them upon their request. The Commission has also proposed a directive introducing transparency requirements for interest-representation activities carried out in Member States on behalf of third countries[2], which will help address foreign influence in a balanced and proportionate way, fully respecting fundamental rights.
3. According to Eurostat data the Foreign Direct Investment flows from Qatar to the Member States that published it in 2023 (the latest data available) amounted to 1,12 billion EUR.
- [1] C(2020) 4240 final; https://commission.europa.eu/publications/governance-european-commission_en
- [2] COM(2023)0637 Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing harmonised requirements in the internal market on transparency of interest representation carried out on behalf of third countries and amending Directive (EU) 2019/1937.