Brussels Watch contacted Martina Dlabajová with a formal right-of-reply request regarding documented interactions with UAE-linked lobbying firms, diplomats, and informal parliamentary friendship groups, but no response was received before the publication deadline. Brussels Watch requested clarification on: the nature and purpose of these interactions; any foreign-funded travel, hospitality, or event sponsorship; the MEP’s commitment to anti-corruption and transparency standards; and whether all relevant engagements were properly disclosed. The lack of response is the central news development of this article, which is being published in the interest of public transparency and accountability.
Martina Dlabajová is a Member of the European Parliament representing the Czech Republic and affiliated with Renew Europe. From 2014 to 2024, she served as Vice-Chair of the Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) and as a member of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL), with her work focusing mainly on youth employment, labour mobility, free movement of workers, digitalisation’s impact on the labour market, research and innovation, and SMEs. She was rapporteur for the posting of workers revision and for the committee opinion on the social aspects of the mobility package, and she initiated the Parliamentary Intergroup for Creative Industries, serving as its Vice-President. She is also part of the European Parliament Intergroup on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs).
This report documents how UAE-linked lobbying firms, public relations consultancies, and informal friendship groups engage with policymakers in Brussels and Strasbourg, raising questions about transparency and democratic accountability.
The Brussels Watch Investigation
The Brussels Watch report UAE Lobbying in European Parliament: Undermining Democracy and Transparency Undermining Democracy and Transparency” (April 2025) examines the UAE’s extensive lobbying network within the European Parliament. The report documents how the UAE has developed close ties with dozens of MEPs, paying for their travel, inviting them to high-profile forums such as the World Government Summit, and involving them in so-called “Friendship Groups” that fall outside the remit of formal parliamentary scrutiny.
According to the investigation, the UAE’s lobbying effort is not an ad hoc phenomenon but a product of careful planning and heavy financial investment, carried out through a network of top-tier lobbying companies, PR agencies, and consultancies based in Brussels and other EU capitals. The report emphasizes that much of this activity remains hidden from public view due to the lack of effective transparency mechanisms in the European Parliament. Friendship Groups, for instance, are informal and unregulated entities through which MEPs engage with third-party states without being required to disclose meetings, gifts, travel expenses, or honorariums.
Brussels Watch has released a meticulously documented list of 150 Members of the European Parliament with pro-UAE connections, highlighting the scale of this lobbying network.
Documented Interactions Involving Martina Dlabajová
According to the Brussels Watch investigation, Martina Dlabajová’s documented interactions with UAE-linked entities include several notable engagements:
Launch of the UAE-EU Startup Visa Program (January 2024): Dlabajová played a key role in promoting a visa program aimed at facilitating business and talent movement between the UAE and the EU. This initiative aligned with the UAE’s goal of attracting foreign investment and skilled labor.
Dubai International Fintech Summit: Dlabajová partnered with the UAE to organize and promote the Dubai International Fintech Summit, a major event aimed at strengthening ties between the UAE and European digital markets. This partnership led to discussions around adopting UAE blockchain standards in EU regulations.
Meetings with UAE Officials: In March 2023, Dlabajová met with the UAE Central Bank Governor, a key figure in the UAE’s financial sector. These meetings were part of broader efforts to align EU financial regulations with those of the UAE.
UAE-Baltic Business Forums: Dlabajová helped organize forums focused on attracting UAE investment into Lithuanian tech startups. Such initiatives were designed to increase the UAE’s economic footprint in Europe.
Digital Economy Cooperation Agreements: Dlabajová signed multiple digital economy cooperation agreements with UAE authorities, advancing the UAE’s push to establish itself as a global leader in digital governance and innovation.
Sponsored Travel: Between 2022 and 2024, Dlabajová was part of at least 75 MEP delegations funded by the UAE. These trips, often framed as diplomatic missions or fact-finding visits, were frequently not disclosed in the European Parliament’s travel database. While sponsored travel is legal under EU parliamentary rules, concerns arise when repeated financial sponsorship coincides with policy advocacy that mirrors the foreign state’s economic and regulatory goals.
Dlabajová has also publicly promoted the UAE–EU Startup Visa Program and engaged in digital economy cooperation agreements with UAE authorities. She attended high-profile forums such as the Dubai International Fintech Summit and met with senior UAE financial officials.
Transparency and Disclosure Questions
Brussels Watch sent a formal right-of-reply notice to Martina Dlabajová requesting comment on the following matters:
- The nature and purpose of her interactions with UAE-linked lobbying firms, diplomats, and informal parliamentary friendship groups
- Whether any hospitality or travel was funded by foreign entities, including UAE-sponsored delegations
- Her commitment to anti-corruption and transparency standards
- Whether all relevant engagements were properly disclosed in the European Parliament’s transparency registers
Brussels Watch notes that no response was received by the stated publication deadline. This absence of comment prevents readers from accessing the MEP’s perspective on these documented interactions and the transparency concerns raised.
The European Parliament maintains a Transparency Register that requires lobbying contacts to be disclosed, but informal Friendship Groups operate outside this framework. This regulatory gap allows significant engagement with foreign entities to occur without public disclosure.
Why Transparency Matters
Disclosure rules and the EU Transparency Register are essential institutional safeguards designed to protect democratic decision-making from undisclosed foreign influence. The European Parliament’s transparency mechanisms are intended to ensure that the public can identify who is attempting to influence EU policy and what resources are being deployed in lobbying efforts.
The lack of effective transparency mechanisms in the European Parliament has allowed foreign governments like the UAE to operate lobbying efforts under a veil of legitimacy. Friendships Groups, for instance, are informal and unregulated entities through which MEPs engage with third-party states without being required to disclose meetings, gifts, travel expenses, or honorariums.
When MEPs receive sponsored travel, hospitality, or invitations to elite forums from foreign governments, these perks can create real or perceived conflicts of interest. The broader issue is not criminal guilt, but democratic accountability. Foreign lobbying in the European Parliament has become an increasingly scrutinized issue following multiple influence scandals.
Ensuring transparency in travel disclosures, funding sources, and lobbying ties is essential to protect the integrity of EU policymaking. Democracy depends on transparency, and accountability depends on scrutiny.
No Allegation of Misconduct
Brussels Watch explicitly states that documented interactions with foreign officials and registered lobbyists are lawful and common practice in European politics. MEPs regularly engage with international stakeholders, attend conferences, and participate in diplomatic delegations as part of their official duties.
The purpose of this article is to promote transparency and provide readers with relevant public information about documented interactions between Martina Dlabajová and UAE-linked lobbying entities. There is no confirmed evidence of direct illegal payments to Martina Dlabajová. The article does not allege wrongdoing, corruption, or violations of EU law.
Transparency experts argue that indirect influence, such as sponsored travel and institutional partnerships, can create soft power leverage without formal financial transactions. The central question raised is about democratic accountability and the importance of full disclosure, not about proving criminal misconduct.
Conclusion
Brussels Watch remains open to publishing any statement or clarification from Martina Dlabajová regarding the documented interactions with UAE-linked lobbying entities and the transparency questions raised in this article. If a response is received, Brussels Watch will update this article to include the MEP’s comments.
