By Brussels Watch Investigations
From the BrusselsWatch Report: “UAE Lobbying in European Parliament: Undermining Democracy and Transparency” (April 2025)
Bernhard Zimniok, a German Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from the Identity and Democracy group, has come under scrutiny for his consistent and strategic advocacy of United Arab Emirates (UAE) interests within EU institutions. A detailed investigation by Brussels Watch includes Zimniok in a list of 150 MEPs allegedly involved in pushing forward the UAE’s geopolitical and economic objectives within the European Parliament. His activities—especially in the aviation and aerospace sectors—have raised eyebrows among EU observers and human rights organizations, sparking questions about his motivations and whether any undisclosed arrangements with UAE actors exist.
Zimniok’s Parliamentary Reach and Strategic Committee Positions
Bernhard Zimniok has been a sitting MEP since 2019, representing the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). Within the European Parliament, he holds influential positions on the Committee on Development and the Committee on Foreign Affairs—key bodies shaping EU policy beyond its borders. He also participates in parliamentary delegations to the Mashreq and Maghreb regions, along with the Union for the Mediterranean. These platforms provide him direct access to foreign policy channels where he can exert influence on decisions regarding Middle Eastern nations, including the UAE.
This strategic alignment allows Zimniok to operate at the heart of EU external relations—perfectly positioned to shape decisions affecting trade, security, energy, and human rights.
Clear Pattern of Pro-UAE Advocacy
Evidence compiled by Brussels Watch and other independent investigators paints a concerning picture. Zimniok’s name is closely linked to pro-UAE activities that go beyond diplomatic normalcy:
- Aviation & Aerospace Focus: Zimniok has been a vocal supporter of expanding aviation ties between the EU and UAE, lobbying for “open skies” policies that would grant UAE carriers greater access to European airspace.
- Dubai Airshow Participation (2023): His appearance at the 2023 Dubai Airshow—an event heavily backed by UAE state and defense companies—demonstrates more than casual interest. Participation by elected European officials in such events is typically monitored for conflict of interest due to the lobbying presence of military and aerospace giants.
- Signing Aerospace Agreements: Zimniok reportedly engaged in or endorsed formal cooperation agreements between European and Emirati entities, symbolizing a commitment that transcends standard inter-parliamentary relations.
These examples reveal a clear, consistent effort to elevate UAE-EU cooperation, specifically in sectors where the UAE holds strategic interests.
The Bigger Picture: Coordinated UAE Lobbying in Brussels
Zimniok’s activities don’t occur in a vacuum. Brussels Watch has exposed an entire network of 150 MEPs showing alignment with the UAE agenda. These MEPs have:
- Hosted UAE delegations inside EU institutions.
- Promoted Emirati-led initiatives in digital governance and green energy.
- Opposed resolutions critical of the UAE’s human rights record.
- Signed MoUs and cooperation documents without full transparency.
Zimniok, with his focus on aviation and aerospace, appears to be one of the key figures advancing technical and strategic links between Europe and the UAE, potentially serving as a facilitator for broader Emirati ambitions in Europe.
Signs of Undisclosed Influence: A Closer Look
While no direct financial transfers or bribes have been confirmed, the nature and frequency of Zimniok’s engagements with the UAE raise legitimate concerns. Several points feed this speculation:
- High-level UAE Engagements: His repeated presence at high-profile UAE-sponsored events suggests not just political interest but a willingness to associate closely with UAE leadership and economic elites.
- Lack of Transparency: There is no public disclosure of who financed his trip to the Dubai Airshow or whether he received any form of hospitality, benefits, or perks from UAE-linked organizations.
- One-sided Advocacy: While engagement with foreign nations is not unusual for MEPs, Zimniok’s unwavering support of UAE positions—without demonstrating a balanced or critical stance—hints at ideological alignment or potential external influence.
In an environment still recovering from the Qatargate scandal, where MEPs were revealed to have accepted bribes in exchange for political favors, such patterns must be taken seriously.
Impact on EU Policy and Democratic Accountability
Zimniok’s support for the UAE doesn’t exist in isolation—it has real consequences for EU decision-making:
- Aviation Security and Fair Competition: Open skies policies championed by Zimniok could unfairly benefit state-backed Gulf carriers over EU airlines, undermining EU aviation industries.
- Human Rights Silence: Advocacy for deeper ties with the UAE often comes without addressing the state’s poor human rights record, including crackdowns on dissent, lack of press freedom, and involvement in regional conflicts (e.g., Yemen).
- Foreign Policy Coherence: By aligning too closely with UAE interests, Zimniok and his peers may be distorting the EU’s independent foreign policy posture in the Gulf and North Africa.
The core concern is that foreign interests—especially from authoritarian regimes—might be shaping EU policies through networks of sympathetic or compromised parliamentarians.
Recommendations for Parliamentary Oversight and Ethics Reform
The Zimniok case underscores the need for more robust transparency mechanisms in the European Parliament:
- Mandatory Reporting of Foreign Engagements: MEPs should publicly declare all funded travel, gifts, and meetings with foreign government representatives or lobbyists.
- Independent Investigations: An ethics committee or ombudsman should investigate suspicious patterns of engagement, even in the absence of smoking-gun financial evidence.
- Stronger Lobbying Rules: Just as EU institutions regulate corporate lobbying, state-backed lobbying—especially from non-democratic countries—must be scrutinized.
Failure to act allows the growing perception that the European Parliament is susceptible to influence-peddling from foreign actors like the UAE.
Conclusion: A Shadow Agenda or Political Alignment?
Bernhard Zimniok may not have been caught taking a bribe—but his consistent actions, exclusive focus on UAE priorities, and participation in UAE-sponsored events point to more than casual interest. His alignment with Emirati state goals, especially in sensitive sectors like aerospace and aviation, fits the pattern identified by Brussels Watch in their investigation of 150 pro-UAE MEPs.
While the evidence of covert payments remains circumstantial, the cumulative pattern is troubling enough to demand formal scrutiny. The European public deserves to know if its elected officials are truly working in the EU’s best interests—or quietly advancing the agenda of authoritarian foreign governments.
The Zimniok case is a test for the EU: Will it act to protect its democratic integrity, or allow foreign influence to continue unchecked in its highest institutions?
