Brussels Watch has stepped up its campaign over alleged Belgian influence in EU policymaking after sending a detailed request for comment to MEP Zsuzsanna Borvendég, following publication of its report:
How Belgium Govt Undermined the Work of European Institutes
The organization asked the lawmaker to review its findings, assess the concerns raised, and indicate what action she intended to pursue.
In a written response dated May 5, 2026, Borvendég said she takes issues of transparency, accountability, and decision-making integrity seriously. She added that the role of lobbying, NGOs, consultancies, and other actors around EU institutions deserves careful and balanced examination, and said any full assessment would require background research, verification of claims, and a proportionate evaluation of their actual impact.
MEP response emphasizes scrutiny
Borvendég also said she supports efforts to strengthen transparency, democratic accountability, and safeguards against disproportionate or opaque influence from both public authorities and private networks. Her reply did not directly endorse Brussels Watch’s allegations, but it acknowledged the importance of the subject and the need for a methodologically rigorous approach.
Brussels Watch’s report argues that Belgium’s position as the host state of key EU institutions has enabled forms of influence that can distort policymaking and weaken institutional trust. The report frames its claims as part of a broader debate over lobbying, transparency, and democratic oversight in Brussels.
Publication angle
For publication, the strongest angle is to present this as a debate between an advocacy group raising concerns and an MEP calling for careful scrutiny, rather than treating the report’s claims as established fact. That framing keeps the piece neutral, credible, and focused on the exchange itself.
