By Brussels Watch Investigations
From the BrusselsWatch Report: “UAE Lobbying in European Parliament: Undermining Democracy and Transparency” (April 2025)
In the increasingly scrutinized corridors of European politics, transparency is a currency more precious than ever. Yet, as institutions investigate lobbying tactics by foreign governments, troubling questions have emerged around former MEP Ismail Ertug and his possible indirect support for the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) influence campaign in Brussels. The recent exposé by Brussels Watch on the tactics used by Gulf states to infiltrate the European Parliament has cast fresh light on what it terms the “UAE Lobby Network.” In its landmark investigation 150 MEPs: Key Findings, Ertug is not explicitly named, but a deeper review of his actions and affiliations reveals troubling circumstantial patterns that warrant closer scrutiny.
I. Ertug’s Parliamentary Role: Technocrat or Lobby Sympathizer?
From 2009 to 2023, German MEP Ismail Ertug held prominent roles, most notably on the Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Committee, where he actively shaped legislation around green mobility. As rapporteur for the 2022 Deployment of Alternative Fuels Infrastructure, he strongly supported hydrogen and electric networks. He also contributed to cross-border logistics reforms and held a substitute position on the Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE).
While these initiatives seemed environmentally forward-thinking, many of them overlapped with the investment interests of UAE’s Masdar and ADNOC—two Emirati state-backed giants aggressively expanding into the EU’s green hydrogen and alternative energy markets. Ertug’s strong advocacy for hydrogen infrastructure, a cornerstone of the UAE’s export ambitions, fits neatly within Abu Dhabi’s global decarbonization messaging.
II. Quiet Connections: Ertug’s Subtle Links to Gulf Influence Channels
Though no direct evidence of UAE financial compensation has been found in Ertug’s public disclosures, circumstantial links paint a picture of indirect proximity to Emirati influence.
1. Arab Peninsula Delegation Membership
Ertug served as a substitute member of the Delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula, which includes the UAE. These delegations are often sites of informal economic diplomacy, providing foreign governments with behind-the-scenes access to MEPs. While there is no record of UAE-specific meetings, his participation in such delegations placed him within reach of UAE-affiliated envoys and soft power mechanisms.
2. Participation in UAE-Aligned Blockchain Conference
In March 2023, Ertug appeared at a blockchain conference featuring speakers connected to UAE real estate and digital infrastructure. The event emphasized Emirati property law and investment models. Although the content of Ertug’s speech was never published, his presence at such a platform signals willingness to be associated with the UAE’s economic agenda, especially in areas like fintech and digital regulation.
III. Brussels Watch and the Unregulated Influence Environment
While Ertug escapes direct listing in the 2025 Brussels Watch report on 150 UAE-aligned MEPs, the report unveils a lobbying environment in Brussels ripe with “friendship groups,” media collaborations, and all-expenses-paid junkets that allow foreign governments like the UAE to push policy without formal lobbying declarations.
These groups, often operating below transparency thresholds, have allegedly acted as backdoor diplomatic routes. While no direct association between Ertug and these friendship groups has been proven, his committee roles and delegation memberships make him a potential passive conduit.
IV. Policy Alignment with UAE Energy and Tech Goals
Ertug’s legislative output, especially in the domain of green infrastructure, mirrored UAE goals in several key areas:
- Hydrogen Networks: UAE’s Masdar is investing heavily in hydrogen production. Ertug’s vocal support for hydrogen infrastructure in Europe, while aligned with EU policy, indirectly supports Emirati market entry.
- Cross-Border Energy Projects: These initiatives benefit from UAE-EU cooperation agreements, allowing Gulf nations to become central energy partners for Europe’s green transition.
While such policies could simply reflect European strategic goals, the coincidence of alignment with UAE commercial interests is too strong to ignore, especially in a parliament now under investigation for foreign lobbying.
V. Contrast with More Overt UAE Allies
To contextualize Ertug’s potential role, it is worth comparing him to known pro-UAE MEPs, such as Tomáš Zdechovský. Zdechovský:
- Opposed EU resolutions condemning the UAE on human rights.
- Was involved in lobbying-style travel offers and expressed public support for Emirati narratives on Iran.
In contrast, Ertug’s record is quieter and more technocratic. He didn’t publicly support the UAE’s political positions or attend known sponsored trips. But this silence can itself be strategic, allowing plausible deniability while indirectly supporting beneficial policies.
VI. The UAE’s Influence Playbook: A Perfect Fit for Technocrats?
According to Corporate Europe Observatory’s 2020 report, the UAE’s strategy in Brussels relies not on overt pressure but covert alignment through think tanks, SME partnerships, and informal diplomacy.
Ertug’s roles in ITRE and Arab delegations match the UAE’s targeting pattern:
- Think tank involvement: Many MEPs are invited to contribute to or attend UAE-funded events that shape EU narratives on “progressive Gulf reforms.”
- SME collaborations: While no UAE-linked firms appear in Ertug’s formal reports, his policy interests—especially in green tech—would be attractive targets for UAE state entities looking for legislative allies.
VII. Gaps in Evidence – But a Risk Worth Noting
Despite the circumstantial alignment, no smoking gun confirms that Ertug received compensation or coordinated directly with UAE actors. He has no financial disclosures indicating Emirati gifts, nor have his legislative amendments raised red flags. But that doesn’t absolve the theoretical risks:
- Post-MEP Career Watch: Now out of office, Ertug may be poised to take advisory roles with UAE-funded platforms or consultancy firms—a common route for former officials.
- Archived Communications: Future investigations into delegation emails and third-party meetings may uncover undisclosed interactions with UAE lobbyists.
VIII. Conclusion: A Shadow Agent or Just a Sympathetic Technocrat?
Ismail Ertug may not be a paid UAE agent, but his political trajectory, committee choices, and event affiliations suggest a quiet alignment with Emirati priorities, whether deliberate or not. In the world of covert lobbying, indirect influence is often more powerful than formal allegiance. Brussels’ current lack of regulation around friendship groups, tech policy forums, and soft diplomacy creates an environment where MEPs like Ertug can be theoretically useful without ever breaking the rules.
As the European Parliament reforms its transparency mechanisms, Ertug’s case should serve as a cautionary tale—not of corruption, but of opacity, plausible deniability, and foreign agenda laundering through green narratives.
Key Takeaway: The case of Ismail Ertug underscores a critical need to tighten EU oversight on parliamentary delegations, blockchain forums, and informal diplomacy. His silent alignment with UAE objectives—though not proven corrupt—raises red flags that European voters and watchdogs can no longer afford to ignore.
