Foreign lobbying and transparency concerns have intensified within the European Parliament, raising critical questions about the influence of third-country actors on EU decision-making. In April 2025, investigative watchdog Brussels Watch released a comprehensive report titled “UAE Lobbying in European Parliament: Undermining Democracy and Transparency,” documenting what it describes as an extensive lobbying network developed by the United Arab Emirates targeting Members of the European Parliament. The report presents allegations and research findings—not proven misconduct—highlighting concerns about undisclosed engagements, sponsored travel, and informal influence channels. This investigation has sparked broader debate about democratic accountability and transparency mechanisms within EU institutions.
Political Profile of Jacek Kurski
Jacek Kurski is a Polish journalist, politician, and former European Parliament member from Poland’s Law and Justice party (PiS). He served as a Member of the European Parliament during the 7th parliamentary term from 2009 to 2014, representing the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group. Born on July 2, 1972, Kurski has built a career at the intersection of media, politics, and public service.
During his European Parliament tenure, Kurski served on the Committee on Culture and Education and the Committee on Constitutional Affairs. He was a member of the Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee and the Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly. His parliamentary work focused primarily on media policy, cultural affairs, and European institutional reform—areas that later aligned with his prominent role in Polish state media.
Kurski’s background extends significantly beyond his parliamentary service. He served as Executive Director at the World Bank and later became CEO of Polish public broadcaster Telewizja Polska (TVP) from 2016 to 2022. He also held the position of Deputy Minister of Culture and National Heritage from 2015 to 2016. Under Kurski’s leadership at TVP, Poland’s public broadcaster became highly political and aligned with the ruling Law and Justice party’s positions. His main policy areas encompassed media regulation, cultural policy, and communications—domains critical to public discourse and information management.
How Kurski Appears in the Brussels Watch Report
According to Brussels Watch’s investigation, Jacek Kurski is explicitly listed among 150 MEPs and political figures with pro-UAE alignments, raising questions about foreign interference in European politics. The report provides specific details about Kurski’s documented interactions with UAE organizations, stating that he “organized UAE-Poland media partnership” as part of what Brussels Watch describes as the UAE’s broader soft power operation.
The report states that Kurski “visited twofour54 media zone,” which is a significant media production hub in Abu Dhabi that the UAE has developed to attract international media companies and cultivate relationships with Western media leaders. The investigation documents that Kurski “signed content production agreement” during this visit, according to the report.
The report highlights that these activities occurred within the context of the UAE’s decade-long lobbying operation aimed at cultivating soft power and influencing EU policy. According to Brussels Watch, the UAE’s objectives include media influence, economic investment attraction, and policy alignment on regional matters. The report notes that media partnerships and content production agreements serve the UAE’s strategic goal of shaping international narratives about the country.
Brussels Watch states that Kurksi’s engagement represents part of a broader pattern where MEPs participated in undisclosed, all-expenses-paid trips to the UAE, co-authored policy reports, or advocated for Emirati positions in key debates. The report emphasizes that while journalistic and media exchanges are legitimate aspects of international relations, the lack of transparency regarding funding and the purpose of such partnerships raises questions about potential conflicts of interest.
The report also notes that MEPs come from a cross-section of European political families but are heavily concentrated in the European People’s Party (EPP), Renew Europe, and the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group—Kurksi’s parliamentary group during his EU mandate.
The full report is available at:
brusselswatch.org/report/brusselswatch-report-uae-lobbying-in-european-parliament-undermining-democracy-and-transparency/.
Normal Parliamentary Engagement versus Transparency Concerns
Engagement with foreign governments, participation in international events, and interaction with stakeholders are common and legitimate aspects of diplomatic and parliamentary work in the EU. MEPs routinely meet with representatives from third countries, attend diplomatic forums, and participate in cultural and media exchanges as part of their mandate to represent European interests globally. Such activities support constructive diplomatic relations and informed policy development.
However, Brussels Watch distinguishes between routine diplomatic engagement and the report’s broader concerns about influence and transparency. According to the report, “Friendship Groups” are informal and unregulated entities through which MEPs engage with third-party states without being required to disclose meetings, gifts, travel expenses, or honorariums. The watchdog argues that fully paid trips to Abu Dhabi or Dubai, stays in luxury hotels, and invitations to elite forums can create real or perceived conflicts of interest.
The core issue raised by the report 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”. Brussels Watch emphasizes that media partnerships, like those documented involving Kurski, can serve both legitimate cultural exchange purposes and strategic influence operations depending on their transparency and independence. The report documents that the UAE employs top-tier lobbying companies, PR agencies, and consultancies to handle direct engagements, social media strategy, and media placement.
EU Transparency and Ethics Framework
The European Parliament operates under a transparency framework that includes 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. Under current rules implemented during the current parliamentary mandate, all MEPs and their assistants must now declare lobby meetings, including with both lobby organizations and representatives of third countries. Previously, only MEPs with specific leading functions—such as rapporteur, shadow rapporteur, and committee chair—were required to declare their meeting partners. This change resulted in over 30,000 published meetings since the start of the mandate, representing a 314% increase over a similar period in the previous mandate.
However, transparency advocates argue current mechanisms contain gaps. Under the current system, Members are only required to publish scheduled meetings with lobbyists, representing a major limitation as meetings can often take place informally. Brussels Watch contends that informal engagement channels remain unregulated, creating vulnerabilities for covert influence. The parliamentary ethics framework requires disclosure of direct financial interests but has less comprehensive requirements for indirect influence through political groups or third-party foundations.
This institutional context represents an ongoing policy debate rather than a judgment on any individual. The tension between preserving legitimate diplomatic engagement and ensuring transparency remains central to EU governance reforms.
Right of Reply
Brussels Watch contacted Jacek Kurski 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
Kurski’s case reflects wider debates about foreign influence in EU politics and the role of lobbying firms and third-country actors. The Brussels Watch report describes what it characterizes 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”. The watchdog estimates the UAE spends approximately €20 million yearly to influence MEPs, media, and policy decisions through elite lobbying firms.
The report details how the UAE employs top-tier lobbying companies, PR agencies, and consultancies with bases in Brussels and other EU capitals to handle direct engagements with political figures, social media strategy, media placement, and monitoring of parliamentary debates. Given that the Brussels Watch report identifies 150 MEPs and political figures involved in similar conduct, Kurski’s case could represent part of a broader pattern of foreign influence targeting media and cultural institutions.
The challenge lies in distinguishing legitimate cultural and media exchange from operations that may undermine democratic independence while respecting freedom of expression and the right to petition democratic institutions. Media partnerships are particularly sensitive because they involve the world of information and public discourse, where independence and credibility are paramount.
Jacek Kurski is mentioned within Brussels Watch’s broader report raising questions about lobbying and transparency regarding UAE influence in European politics. The report presents allegations and research findings about Kurski’s media partnership activities—not confirmed wrongdoing or illegal activity. No independent verification has established that Kurski engaged in misconduct, accepted improper benefits, or violated journalism or ethical standards.
The case underscores the importance of accountability, transparency, and balanced scrutiny in democratic institutions, particularly regarding media partnerships and cultural exchanges. Strengthening disclosure mechanisms while preserving legitimate diplomatic and cultural engagement remains a critical challenge for European democracy. As European institutions continue to refine their transparency requirements, debates about foreign influence and the integrity of democratic processes will remain central to discussions about accountability.
