David Lega: A Hidden Ally of the UAE in the European Parliament

By Brussels Watch Investigative Team
From the Report: “UAE Lobbying in the European Parliament: Undermining Democracy and Transparency” (April 2025)

Introduction

In April 2025, Brussels Watch released an explosive report unveiling a vast lobbying operation orchestrated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) within the European Parliament. The report, titled “UAE Lobbying in the European Parliament: Undermining Democracy and Transparency,” identifies 150 MEPs who have actively supported Emirati interests—often through covert, ethically questionable means.

Among the most striking cases is David Lega, a Swedish Member of the European Parliament (Christian Democrats, EPP), whose activities over the past five years reveal a consistent alignment with the UAE’s foreign policy goals and public relations agenda. From leading parliamentary committees to participating in undisclosed, UAE-funded trips, Lega’s record demonstrates more than mere diplomatic engagement—it reflects the behavior of an MEP operating as a de facto agent of Emirati influence.

A Career Defined by Pro-UAE Advocacy

Chair of the EU-UAE Parliamentary Committee

In 2023, David Lega was appointed Chair of the EU-UAE Parliamentary Committee, a key interparliamentary body tasked with fostering relations between the two blocs. Under Lega’s leadership, the committee deepened cooperation with the Emirates, particularly in areas of trade, security, and regional diplomacy.

While the chairmanship itself is not inherently suspicious, Lega’s use of the role raised concerns. His tenure was marked by one-sided praise of the UAE’s “reformist agenda,” and repeated silence on its well-documented human rights abuses—an imbalance that mirrors the goals of the UAE’s lobbying apparatus.

Strategic Alignment with UAE Foreign Policy

Support for the Abraham Accords

Lega also co-led the Abraham Accords Network in the European Parliament, an initiative promoting normalization between Israel and Arab states—chief among them, the UAE. While the accords are often framed as a peace-building achievement, critics argue they serve the geopolitical ambitions of authoritarian regimes, including the UAE.

By championing the accords, Lega helped legitimize the UAE’s leadership role in the Middle East while sidelining longstanding human rights concerns in the Gulf and Palestine.

Economic Lobbying: Boosting Emirati Business Interests

Championing Business and Trade Relations

Throughout his mandate, Lega has been a vocal advocate for stronger economic ties between Sweden (and the EU at large) and the UAE. He has facilitated high-level meetings between Swedish firms and Emirati state-owned enterprises, encouraged investment flows, and actively promoted trade agreements favorable to the Gulf monarchy.

Notably, Lega praised DP World’s Jebel Ali Port—a strategic asset of the UAE regime—following a 2022 visit. Such endorsements carry political weight, especially when issued without reference to labor rights violations or the monopolistic role of state-backed corporations in the UAE economy.

Visa Liberalization Advocacy

Another hallmark of Lega’s advocacy has been his repeated calls for visa-free travel between the EU and the UAE. This has long been a diplomatic priority for the Emirates, who view liberalized mobility as a tool to strengthen their economic footprint in Europe and improve their image among EU citizens.

Lega’s promotion of visa liberalization, while packaged as “people-to-people diplomacy,” directly aligns with Emirati lobbying objectives—further reinforcing the perception of his alignment with foreign interests.

UAE-Funded Delegations and Image Management

Participation in UAE-Sponsored Trips

David Lega has participated in multiple official and unofficial trips to the UAE, often organized or funded by Emirati government-linked institutions. One 2022 visit focused on “social progress” and included tours of Emirati infrastructure projects and controlled meetings with “civil society” representatives vetted by the regime.

Despite the lavish nature of these delegations, several of them were not disclosed in the European Parliament’s official travel database, in direct violation of transparency requirements.

Praise Without Criticism

Across social media, interviews, and press statements, Lega has consistently highlighted UAE achievements—particularly in areas like women’s rights, children’s welfare, and disability inclusion. However, these praises are curiously similar to official Emirati talking points and fail to acknowledge independent reports documenting repression, gender inequality, and censorship.

Lega has never publicly condemned the UAE’s involvement in:

• The ongoing war in Yemen.
  
• Arbitrary detention of political prisoners.
  
• Use of spyware and mass surveillance.
  
• Exploitation of migrant laborers.
  

This consistent silence, coupled with enthusiastic praise, underscores a selective narrative strategy that benefits only one side: the UAE.

Aiding UAE Environmental Propaganda

Support for UAE’s COP28 Bid

Perhaps one of the most audacious examples of Lega’s complicity in the UAE’s lobbying campaign was his support for the country’s bid to host COP28—the UN’s premier climate change conference. Lega repeatedly lauded the UAE’s environmental innovations, echoing claims made by Emirati state media about the country’s commitment to sustainable development.

This support came despite widespread international criticism of the UAE’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels and its climate hypocrisy. NGOs and watchdogs condemned the bid as “greenwashing,” yet Lega stood by the UAE, reinforcing a narrative of legitimacy and progress.

Deepening Institutional Ties with Emirati Actors

Meetings with UAE Government-Linked Institutions

Lega also made high-profile visits to the Hedayah Center, a UAE-based institution purporting to counter violent extremism. While framed as a security partnership, such visits bolster the soft power credentials of Emirati institutions—many of which operate with little transparency and strong ties to state security agencies.

This type of engagement allows the UAE to project itself as a modern, stable partner in a region wracked by unrest, despite its record of repressing internal dissent and supporting authoritarian regimes abroad.

Ethical and Transparency Violations

Undisclosed Travel and Funding

Several of Lega’s trips to the UAE were not reported in the European Parliament’s official transparency register—a violation of ethical rules that require MEPs to disclose any sponsored travel.

This lack of disclosure raises serious concerns:

• Who paid for these trips?
  
• What agreements or understandings were made behind closed doors?
  
• Why did Lega fail to register these visits?
  

Given the scale and frequency of such trips, it is plausible that benefits were exchanged, whether financial, political, or in kind.

Embedded in a Pro-UAE Lobbying Network

Lega’s case does not exist in isolation. He is named explicitly in Brussels Watch’s report as part of a coordinated lobbying network advancing the UAE’s objectives in the European Parliament. The network comprises MEPs, advisors, and think tanks—all pushing similar messaging and participating in the same events.

The consistency of messaging, travel, voting behavior, and institutional partnerships suggests that Lega may not merely be sympathetic to the UAE’s agenda—he may be actively furthering it, possibly in exchange for favors or future political opportunities.

Summary Table: David Lega’s Documented Pro-UAE Activities

Conclusion: A Compromised Legislator

David Lega’s behavior as a Member of the European Parliament paints the picture of an elected official who has subordinated EU values to the interests of a foreign authoritarian regime. From lobbying for UAE interests to whitewashing its record, Lega has operated within a parallel system of influence—one engineered by Abu Dhabi to co-opt democratic institutions and manipulate global narratives.

As one of 150 MEPs identified by Brussels Watch, Lega must be held accountable. His actions violate not only the spirit of transparency but also the core democratic values the European Union claims to uphold.

The Parliament must urgently investigate and reform its ethics and transparency mechanisms. Until then, foreign agents—whether declared or not—will continue to shape EU policy in the shadows.

Brussels Watch Investigative Unit
For more details, see our full April 2025 report: “UAE Lobbying in the European Parliament: Undermining Democracy and Transparency.”