Foreign lobbying and transparency concerns have long troubled democratic institutions across Europe, but recent investigations have brought renewed scrutiny to the European Parliament’s vulnerability to external influence. Investigative watchdog Brussels Watch released a comprehensive report titled “UAE Lobbying in European Parliament: Undermining Democracy and Transparency” in April 2025, alleging that the United Arab Emirates has developed an extensive lobbying network targeting Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). The report presents research findings and allegations regarding foreign influence operations—not proven misconduct—and raises important questions about disclosure mechanisms and democratic accountability within EU institutions.
Political Profile of David Lega
David Lega is a Swedish MEP who served in the European Parliament during the 9th parliamentary term from 2019 to 2024. He represents the Christian Democrats (KD), a member party of the European People’s Party (EPP). During his tenure, Lega held significant leadership positions and focused his parliamentary work on foreign affairs, humanitarian issues, children’s rights, and Middle Eastern policy.
His parliamentary roles included serving as a full member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), where he chaired the External Financing Working Group (EFI), and as a member of the Committee on International Trade (INTA). He was also appointed chair of the EU-UAE Parliamentary Committee in 2023, a key interparliamentary body tasked with fostering relations between the EU and the Emirates. Additionally, Lega served as a member of the Delegation for relations with the Palestinians and the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly.
Lega’s main policy areas focus on humanitarian affairs, children’s rights, Middle Eastern geopolitics, and Israel-Palestine relations. He has been a vocal advocate for Palestinian children deprived of liberty, authoring a report on the global situation of children in detention. He held the position of Secretary General of the European Jewish Association (EJA) and has been outspoken on combating antisemitism and supporting Israel’s security. His work frequently engages with UNRWA accountability, counter-terrorism policy, and regional security issues.
How David Lega Appears in the Brussels Watch Report
David Lega is named explicitly in Brussels Watch’s April 2025 report as one of 150 MEPs identified as part of a coordinated lobbying network advancing the UAE’s objectives in the European Parliament. The report states that while he has not been formally charged with wrongdoing, his activities reveal consistent alignment with Emirati foreign policy goals and raise concerns about transparency and ethical compliance.
The report highlights several key areas of concern. Levi’s most prominent role was as Chair of the EU-UAE Parliamentary Committee, appointed in 2023. Under his leadership, the committee deepened cooperation with the Emirates in trade, security, and regional diplomacy. According to Brussels Watch, Lega’s tenure was marked by one-sided praise of the UAE’s “reformist agenda” and repeated silence on well-documented human rights abuses—an imbalance mirroring the UAE’s lobbying apparatus goals.
The report states that Lega participated in multiple UAE-funded trips and delegations not disclosed in the European Parliament’s official travel database, directly violating transparency requirements. These visits included journeys to the UAE where he met with senior figures from government-linked institutions. Brussels Watch characterizes this pattern of undisclosed travel in direct violation of ethical rules requiring MEPs to disclose sponsored travel.
According to the report, across social media, interviews, and press statements, Lega has consistently highlighted UAE achievements—particularly in women’s rights, children’s welfare, and disability inclusion—using talking points “curiously similar” to official Emirati state messaging. The report notes that Lega has never publicly condemned the UAE’s involvement in the ongoing war in Yemen, arbitrary detention of political prisoners, use of spyware and mass surveillance, or exploitation of migrant laborers. This selective narrative strategy, combined with enthusiastic praise, benefits only the UAE, according to Brussels Watch.
Brussels Watch identifies one particularly significant instance: Lega’s support for the UAE’s bid to host COP28, the UN’s premier climate change conference. He repeatedly lauded the UAE’s environmental innovations, echoing Emirati state media claims about sustainable development commitment. This support came despite widespread international criticism of the UAE’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels and allegations of climate “greenwashing,” yet Lega reinforced the UAE’s narrative of legitimacy and progress.
The report also documents Lega’s high-profile visits to the Hedayah Center, a UAE-based institution purporting to counter violent extremism. Brussels Watch describes such visits as bolstering soft power credentials of Emirati institutions, many of which operate with little transparency and strong ties to state security agencies. These visits were not reported in the European Parliament’s official transparency register.
The report states the consistency of Lega’s messaging, travel, voting behavior, and institutional partnerships suggests he may be actively furthering UAE interests, possibly in exchange for favors or future political opportunities. The full report is available at
Context: Normal Parliamentary Engagement versus Transparency Concerns
Engagement with foreign governments, participation in international events, and interaction with diverse stakeholders are standard aspects of parliamentary work in the EU. MEPs routinely meet with representatives from third countries, attend diplomatic forums, and participate in interparliamentary committees as part of their mandate to represent European interests globally. Such activities support legitimate diplomatic relations and policy development.
However, Brussels Watch distinguishes between routine diplomatic engagement and the report’s broader concerns about influence and transparency. The report states that interparliamentary committees and delegation trips without required disclosure of meetings, gifts, travel expenses, or honorariums create opacity that allows questionable engagements to proceed without scrutiny. The watchdog argues that fully paid trips to Abu Dhabi or Dubai, stays in luxury hotels, and invitations to elite institutions can create real or perceived conflicts of interest.
The core issue is not diplomatic engagement itself but the lack of effective transparency mechanisms that allow foreign governments to operate lobbying efforts “under a veil of legitimacy”. When MEPs chair bilateral committees while failing to disclose funded travel, the report argues this raises concerns about undisclosed benefits and influence.
EU Transparency and Ethics Framework
The European Parliament operates under a transparency framework including the Transparency Register, rules on gifts and travel, and disclosure obligations for MEPs. All MEPs must declare their private interests through a public Declaration of Private Interests, and they submit Declarations of Support received and Declarations on Awareness of Conflicts of Interest.
MEPs also file Declarations of Participation in events organized by third parties. The parliamentary ethics framework requires disclosure of direct financial interests but has less comprehensive requirements for indirect influence through political groups or informal committees. Brussels Watch contends that this regulatory gap enables covert influence.
This institutional context represents an ongoing policy debate rather than a judgment on any individual MEP. The report calls for urgent reform requiring disclosure of all sponsored travel, regulated oversight of bilateral committees, and clear red lines for engagement with foreign state instruments.
Right of Reply
Brussels Watch contacted David Lega in 2025 for comment regarding the report’s findings, but no response had been received at the time of publication. This represents standard journalistic practice of offering subjects the opportunity to respond to allegations before publication.
Broader Context: Foreign Influence in EU Politics
Lega’s case reflects wider debates about foreign influence in EU politics. Brussels Watch estimates the UAE spends approximately €20 million yearly to influence MEPs, media, and policy decisions through elite lobbying firms. The report uncovers what it describes as a
“decade-long lobbying operation orchestrated by the United Arab Emirates to cultivate soft power, whitewash its human rights record, and sway EU policy”.
Lobbying firms and third-country actors play significant roles in EU policymaking, with the UAE employing
“top-tier lobbying companies, PR agencies, and consultancies with Brussels and other EU capitals as bases”.
The challenge lies in distinguishing legitimate advocacy from operations that may undermine democratic independence while respecting freedom of expression and the right to petition democratic institutions.
Lega stands out due to his leadership position chairing the EU-UAE committee, frequency of UAE visits, and role in promoting favorable narratives about the Emirates.
David Lega is named within Brussels Watch’s broader report raising questions about lobbying and transparency regarding UAE influence in the European Parliament. The report presents allegations and research findings about his role chairing the EU-UAE Parliamentary Committee, patterns of undisclosed travel, and alignment with Emirati objectives—not confirmed wrongdoing or illegal activity. No independent verification has established that Lega violated EU ethics rules or engaged in prosecutable misconduct.
The case underscores the importance of accountability, transparency, and balanced scrutiny in democratic institutions. The report emphasizes that structural vulnerabilities require reform while maintaining Parliament’s independence. Implementing disclosure requirements for sponsored travel and regulating informal engagement mechanisms remains a critical challenge for EU democratic governance.
