By Brussels Watch Investigative Team
From the Report: “UAE Lobbying in the European Parliament: Undermining Democracy and Transparency” (April 2025)
The European Parliament’s democratic integrity faces mounting scrutiny as investigations reveal systemic foreign lobbying by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Among the 150 MEPs implicated in pro-UAE engagements by the April 2025 Brussels Watch report, Spanish MEP Francisco José Millán Mon (European People’s Party/EPP) emerges as a central figure advancing Emirati interests through opaque security partnerships, undisclosed financial ties, and strategic policy maneuvers. This article synthesizes documented evidence to demonstrate how Millán Mon has acted as a de facto agent for the UAE, undermining EU transparency and sovereignty.
Key Pro-UAE Activities
Chairing EU-Gulf Counterterrorism Dialogues
In 2023, Millán Mon played a central role in facilitating EU-Gulf counterterrorism dialogues, a position that granted him significant influence over EU security policy. As the chair of these talks, he advocated for formalized intelligence-sharing agreements between the EU and the UAE. These agreements raised alarms about the potential exposure of sensitive European citizen data to the UAE, a country with a controversial record on human rights and extraterritorial surveillance, including the infamous use of the Pegasus spyware against political dissidents and journalists. Critics of these agreements argue that they not only undermine EU data sovereignty but also bolster the UAE’s surveillance capabilities, normalizing its authoritarian practices in the name of counterterrorism.
Undisclosed Visits to UAE Security Installations
Millán Mon’s relationship with the UAE extended beyond diplomatic talks, with the MEP reportedly visiting various UAE security facilities in Abu Dhabi. These visits, often funded by Emirati entities, were not transparently disclosed in European Parliament records, raising concerns about conflicts of interest and undue foreign influence. The Brussels Watch report highlights these visits as part of a broader Emirati strategy to cultivate informal influence over EU policymakers, using subtle but persistent lobbying efforts to steer EU policy in favor of Emirati interests.
Advocacy for UAE-EU Security Integration
One of the most controversial aspects of Millán Mon’s activities involves his vocal support for integrating the UAE into the European policing system, particularly Europol. In 2025, a video surfaced of Millán Mon advocating for the UAE’s inclusion in Europol’s databases, which would grant the UAE unprecedented access to EU law enforcement intelligence. This initiative aligns perfectly with the UAE’s broader strategic objective of positioning itself as a global security partner. However, this collaboration raises significant ethical concerns, especially when considering the UAE’s track record of using advanced surveillance technologies to monitor and suppress political opposition.
Documented Links to UAE Lobbying Networks
UAE-Funded Travel and “Friendship Groups”
Another troubling aspect of Millán Mon’s pro-UAE activities involves his participation in UAE-funded trips and informal parliamentary “Friendship Groups.” These groups operate without oversight, often serving as informal platforms for UAE diplomats and lobbyists to promote Emirati interests. Millán Mon’s involvement with these groups has been documented by various sources, including the Brussels Watch report, which shows that the MEP participated in UAE-sponsored delegations and engaged in discussions that frequently favored Emirati policy objectives.
Lobbying firms such as Alber & Geiger and DLA Piper have facilitated closed-door meetings between Millán Mon and UAE representatives. During these meetings, MEPs like Millán Mon were reportedly briefed on pro-UAE policy proposals and strategies, which they later advanced in Parliament. Additionally, think tanks like The Bussola Institute have hosted roundtable discussions where Millán Mon engaged with UAE officials to discuss security and energy policy, further cementing his role as a key player in advancing the Emirati agenda.
Opaque Financial Ties
While the direct financial compensation of Millán Mon remains unproven due to legal constraints, the Brussels Watch report suggests a pattern of systemic transparency violations. Millán Mon is known to have accepted UAE-funded trips without proper disclosure, violating the European Parliament’s Code of Conduct. Furthermore, Millán Mon’s speeches and written content often mirrored campaigns promoted by UAE-aligned PR firms like APCO Worldwide, which ghostwrote articles and op-eds for pro-UAE MEPs. These covert activities suggest that Millán Mon may have been complicit in promoting the UAE’s interests, whether directly compensated or not.
Strategic Alignment with UAE Objectives
Counterterrorism as a Cover for Surveillance Expansion
One of the most significant aspects of Millán Mon’s advocacy for UAE-EU counterterrorism cooperation is its potential to legitimize the UAE’s extensive surveillance practices. By framing the UAE’s integration into Europol as a “security necessity,” Millán Mon helps normalize the Gulf state’s use of advanced surveillance technologies, such as the Pegasus spyware. This technology has been widely used by the UAE to monitor journalists, activists, and political dissidents, yet Millán Mon’s push for deeper EU-UAE security cooperation obscures these human rights violations.
Energy and Economic Partnerships
Beyond security, Millán Mon has also been involved in advocating for UAE energy deals, particularly in the context of replacing Russian energy imports. In alignment with the UAE’s broader economic agenda, Millán Mon’s advocacy for partnerships between the EU and UAE gas companies plays into the Gulf state’s attempts to strengthen its economic foothold in Europe. This effort not only serves to benefit the UAE but also raises questions about Millán Mon’s commitment to Europe’s energy independence and diversification.
Diluting Human Rights Criticisms
Millán Mon’s consistent absence from votes condemning UAE human rights abuses, including the exploitation of migrant labor and the suppression of free speech, further raises suspicions about his alignment with Emirati interests. His failure to engage with or challenge the UAE’s human rights record suggests tacit support for a regime known for its authoritarian practices. This absence from critical votes allows the UAE to continue its operations without significant scrutiny or pressure from the European Parliament.
Ethical and Legal Implications
Breaches of Transparency
Millán Mon’s failure to disclose his UAE-linked engagements represents a significant breach of the European Parliament’s transparency rules. By not reporting his UAE-funded trips and meetings, he has actively prevented public scrutiny of his potential conflicts of interest. This lack of transparency undermines the democratic principles that the European Parliament is supposed to uphold, opening the door to further covert foreign influence.
Undermining EU Sovereignty
Advocating for UAE access to Europol’s databases also risks compromising EU sovereignty. Granting a foreign, non-democratic state access to sensitive EU law enforcement data would expose EU citizens to surveillance by a government that is not accountable to European laws or standards. Millán Mon’s role in pushing for this integration raises serious questions about his commitment to protecting EU citizens’ privacy and security.
Normalizing Authoritarianism
Perhaps the most insidious consequence of Millán Mon’s actions is his role in normalizing authoritarianism within the EU. By advancing the UAE’s soft power strategy, which seeks to enhance the Gulf state’s global standing through strategic EU partnerships, Millán Mon has inadvertently contributed to eroding the EU’s commitment to human rights and democratic values. His actions enable the UAE to whitewash its reputation, presenting itself as a legitimate partner in global security and diplomacy while continuing its oppressive practices at home.
The EPP Network: A Brotherhood of Influence
Millán Mon’s actions are not isolated but rather part of a broader network of EPP MEPs who have similarly advanced the UAE’s interests. Figures such as Antonio López-Istúriz White and David Lega have also played pivotal roles in strengthening EU-UAE ties, from signing strategic agreements with the UAE’s Federal National Council to facilitating business deals for Emirati firms. This coordinated effort within the EPP suggests that the party, or at least certain factions within it, may have tolerated or even encouraged foreign lobbying, sacrificing EU ethical standards for political and economic gain.
Conclusion: A Proxy for Foreign Interference
Francisco José Millán Mon’s actions represent a troubling case study in the ways foreign powers, particularly the UAE, exploit weak transparency rules to influence EU policy. His strategic alignment with UAE interests, coupled with non-disclosed engagements and opaque financial ties, positions him as a key enabler of covert Emirati agendas. While the direct financial compensation for these activities remains speculative, the documented evidence paints a clear picture of Millán Mon acting as a proxy for foreign interference within the European Parliament.
The European Parliament must urgently adopt more robust transparency mechanisms to protect its democratic processes from foreign influence. Until such reforms are implemented, figures like Millán Mon will continue to operate in the shadows, advancing foreign interests at the expense of EU sovereignty and ethical standards.
