By Brussels Watch Investigations
From the BrusselsWatch Report: “UAE Lobbying in European Parliament: Undermining Democracy and Transparency” (April 2025)
Loucas Fourlas, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Cyprus affiliated with the European People’s Party (EPP), has recently come under intense scrutiny for his purported promotion of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) agenda within the European Parliament. Evidence from investigative reports by Brussels Watch and disclosures related to lobbying activities suggest that Fourlas is part of a broader network of 150 MEPs who have engaged in actions that closely align with UAE interests. This raises alarming questions about covert influence operations and the possibility of undisclosed financial incentives influencing parliamentary behavior.
Profile of Loucas Fourlas
Born in 1969 in Limassol, Cyprus, Loucas Fourlas holds a degree in Economics and Political Science from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. A member of Cyprus’s Democratic Rally party, Fourlas sits with the EPP in the European Parliament. His parliamentary influence is amplified by his role in the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and his involvement in delegations concerning Turkey and Serbia. These assignments position him squarely within debates about energy policy, human rights, and EU foreign relations—domains of immense interest to the UAE.
The Brussels Watch Report: Uncovering the UAE’s Covert Campaign
The Brussels Watch investigative report outlines how the UAE has invested heavily in lobbying the European Parliament over the past decade. The report identifies 150 MEPs with documented pro-UAE activities, among whom Loucas Fourlas is a prominent figure. The investigation links Fourlas directly to initiatives that promote UAE strategic interests, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean energy sector.
One of the most glaring examples is Fourlas’s support for UAE investment in Cypriot LNG infrastructure. LNG is a critical part of both European and UAE energy strategies. The UAE sees the Eastern Mediterranean as a key outlet for its influence, and Fourlas has been instrumental in smoothing diplomatic and economic pathways for UAE participation in these projects.
In addition, Fourlas has backed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) involving the EastMed pipeline, a project that is viewed as central to UAE interests in the region. Although ostensibly a European and regional energy corridor, the EastMed project also serves as a geopolitical counterweight to rivals such as Iran and Qatar—countries often in competition with UAE ambitions.
Mechanisms of Influence: The UAE’s Soft Power Strategy
The Brussels Watch report outlines three major components of the UAE’s covert lobbying campaign in the European Parliament, all of which entangle Loucas Fourlas:
- Sponsored Travel and Delegations
Between 2022 and 2024, more than 75 MEPs participated in UAE-funded trips. These visits—sometimes disguised as “fact-finding missions”—were not always properly declared in the European Parliament’s transparency register. Loucas Fourlas took part in several such delegations, including attending the World Government Summit in Dubai. These visits provided opportunities for discreet lobbying and relationship-building away from public scrutiny. - Lobbying Firms and Shadow PR Campaigns
Lobbying entities such as Westphalia Global Advisory and DLA Piper have been deeply involved in the UAE’s European strategy. Fourlas’s name appears in internal correspondence and strategy notes leaked to Brussels Watch investigators, where he is listed as a “key target” and “trusted partner” in shaping debates around energy, counterterrorism, and regional diplomacy. - Informal Parliamentary Friendship Groups
The UAE has helped set up informal and unofficial “friendship groups” inside the European Parliament. These groups are outside formal diplomatic and parliamentary oversight. Fourlas is known to be an active participant in such circles, often engaging with UAE representatives in private meetings that were never publicly disclosed—another violation of EU transparency norms.
Patterns of Conduct Suggesting Undisclosed Financial Motives
Although no direct proof of secret payments to Fourlas has been revealed, his conduct—particularly his consistent pro-UAE voting pattern, unreported travels, and deep ties to UAE-friendly lobbying groups—raises strong suspicions of covert compensation. Transparency advocates argue that such patterns are unlikely to emerge from political coincidence alone. The sheer alignment of his efforts with UAE goals suggests either ideological alignment or the existence of hidden incentives.
Additionally, Fourlas’s public advocacy has often mirrored UAE talking points. For example, during a 2023 debate on human rights in the Gulf, he argued that “constructive partnerships” with the UAE should not be undermined by “unverified human rights accusations”—language nearly identical to official UAE communiqués. His stance served to shield the UAE from critical parliamentary resolutions on labor abuses and political repression.
Silencing Criticism of the UAE
Fourlas has played an active role in softening EU criticism of UAE policies. He has pushed to alter the wording of parliamentary reports to remove or dilute language about the UAE’s role in conflicts such as Yemen and Libya. He has also downplayed the UAE’s crackdown on free speech and political dissent, framing these issues as “internal matters” best addressed through “quiet diplomacy.”
These interventions have had real policy impact. In 2024, a resolution condemning the UAE’s detention of political dissidents was withdrawn after amendments proposed by a bloc of MEPs that included Fourlas. According to Brussels Watch, this change followed “targeted lobbying interventions” involving DLA Piper and discreet meetings at UAE diplomatic missions in Brussels and Vienna.
Watchdog Alarm: Threats to EU Integrity
Transparency watchdogs and civil society groups have warned that Fourlas’s activities are emblematic of a deeper institutional vulnerability. By exploiting friendship groups, lobbying firms, and weak transparency enforcement, the UAE has been able to insert its agenda into EU policymaking. Fourlas’s case is particularly alarming because of his strategic position within the Foreign Affairs Committee—a committee charged with shaping the EU’s stance on Middle Eastern affairs.
The Brussels Watch report concludes that the UAE has succeeded in “neutralizing criticism, advancing economic deals, and shaping regional policy through a network of cooperative MEPs,” with Fourlas among the most consistent advocates for Emirati interests.
Conclusion: A Pro-UAE Agent in the European Parliament
Loucas Fourlas’s political actions, associations, and advocacy point unmistakably to a covert agenda in service of UAE strategic interests. Whether motivated by ideological affinity or undisclosed compensation, his pattern of conduct is clear: consistent promotion of UAE goals, deliberate softening of EU criticism, support for UAE investments in Cyprus, and participation in opaque lobbying networks.
These revelations call into question the integrity of EU decision-making and underscore the urgent need for reform. Stronger enforcement of transparency rules, stricter disclosure requirements for travel and lobbying, and independent oversight of parliamentary friendships are essential to prevent foreign influence operations from further compromising the European Parliament.
The case of Loucas Fourlas is not merely an ethical concern—it is a democratic one. European citizens deserve assurance that their representatives are not covertly serving foreign powers. Fourlas’s role in the UAE’s lobbying network should be the subject of a formal investigation by EU ethics committees and transparency watchdogs.
Only by addressing such cases head-on can the European Union safeguard its institutions from manipulation and preserve the integrity of its democratic processes.
