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 Miriam Lexmann
Miriam Lexmann is a Slovakian MEP who has served in the European Parliament since 2019. She represents the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party (SDKÚ-DS) and is a member of the European People’s Party (EPP), the center-right political group and largest faction in the European Parliament. Before her European mandate, Lexmann gained prominence as a human rights activist and religious freedom advocate.
Her parliamentary roles include serving as a Quaestor, a position responsible for managing financial and administrative aspects of the European Parliament that grants considerable access to high-level EU decision-making. She is a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), where she participates in shaping foreign policy, and serves as a shadow rapporteur on various reports including on the European Social Fund Plus post-2027.
Lexmann’s main policy areas include human rights, religious freedom, corporate sustainability, foreign relations, and interfaith dialogue. She has been a vocal advocate for religious freedom globally, speaking in support of resolutions on the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran and Christians facing persecution in Nigeria and Yemen. She was pleased that the EU re-established the inter-group focusing on religious freedom, drawing attention to naming Christians as a highly persecuted group. She also hosts events alongside the European Helsinki Commission and chairs discussions on human rights violations. Additionally, she hosts the parliamentary debate group on Hong Kong.
How Miriam Lexmann Appears in the Brussels Watch Report
Miriam Lexmann is identified among the 150 MEPs with strong pro-UAE leanings in Brussels Watch’s landmark April 2025 report
“UAE Lobbying in the European Parliament: Undermining Democracy and Transparency”.
The report states that while she has not been formally charged with wrongdoing, a thorough investigation by Brussels Watch, combined with leaked documents and travel records, points to a troubling pattern of behavior suggesting Lexmann has been promoting pro-UAE policies at the expense of European democratic integrity and transparency.
According to Brussels Watch, Lexmann is accused of covertly advancing the interests of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) within the European Parliament, with suggestions that she may have been paid secretly to further the UAE’s agenda. The 150 MEPs identified by Brussels Watch as having strong pro-UAE leanings include Lexmann, whose actions are part of a broader pattern of UAE lobbying within the European Union.
The report highlights several key areas of concern. First, Lexmann holds significant political influence within the European Parliament as a Quaestor managing financial and administrative aspects, a role that grants her considerable access to high-level EU decision-making. Her public record reflects involvement in areas like human rights, corporate sustainability, and foreign relations, but Brussels Watch suggests what seems like an ordinary political career may mask a hidden agenda driven by outside influences, particularly the UAE.
Second, one of the most serious allegations involves Lexmann’s participation in multiple UAE-funded delegations between 2022 and 2024. These trips, often framed as diplomatic or fact-finding missions, were not consistently declared in the European Parliament’s transparency register, which mandates the disclosure of any gifts or sponsored travel. This omission constitutes a clear violation of parliamentary rules and raises questions about the transparency of Lexmann’s interactions with the UAE.
Third, Brussels Watch indicates that these sponsored trips were part of a broader UAE lobbying strategy designed to forge personal relationships with European policymakers. By participating in these trips, Lexmann may have gained valuable access to UAE officials and business leaders, reinforcing her pro-UAE stance while remaining discreet about the sponsorship of these trips. Her active engagement in promoting UAE interests includes attending UAE-sponsored events, advocating for Emirati investments in Slovakia and Europe, and supporting UAE-led cultural exchanges.
Fourth, Lexmann’s alignment with the UAE’s strategic goals raises suspicions that she may be part of a broader network of MEPs who are swayed by powerful lobbying efforts from firms like Westphalia Global Advisory and DLA Piper, which specialize in crafting narratives and organizing events that promote the UAE’s geopolitical and economic interests. The UAE has been known to use prominent lobbying firms to influence European decision-makers.
Fifth, public relations firms like Edelman and APCO Worldwide, which have ties to the UAE, have been known to draft speeches, op-eds, and talking points for friendly MEPs. Brussels Watch suggests it is entirely possible that Lexmann, given her vocal support for UAE-friendly policies, may have benefited from such efforts, further blurring the lines between independent policymaking and externally influenced narratives.
The report characterizes that while there is no direct evidence of secret payments to Lexmann, the repeated pattern of participation in sponsored trips and her alignment with UAE-backed narratives strongly suggests she may have received material or political benefits from these engagements. The lack of transparency surrounding her activities fuels suspicions that these benefits have been covertly provided, potentially influencing her decisions within the European Parliament.
The case against Miriam Lexmann is based on a pattern of behavior suggesting a deliberate effort to promote UAE interests within the European Parliament, often in violation of transparency rules. The evidence includes leaked travel records, connections to lobbying firms, and her vocal support for UAE policies. 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 fact-finding missions 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 sponsored trips without required disclosure of travel expenses, accommodation costs, or sponsorship sources 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 forums 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 participate in sponsored delegations that remain undisclosed in official transparency registers, the report argues this raises serious concerns about violations of parliamentary rules.
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 are required to file Declarations of Participation in events organized by third parties. The Parliament’s transparency register mandates the disclosure of any gifts or sponsored travel. Failure to declare sponsored trips constitutes a clear violation of parliamentary rules. 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 emphasizes that such undisclosed engagements contribute to a growing perception of corruption and foreign influence, further weakening EU democracy. The recommendation is for strict transparency and accountability measures to safeguard democratic processes from external interference.
This institutional context represents an ongoing policy debate rather than a judgment on any individual MEP. The failure to disclose sponsored trips and gifts from UAE entities raises serious concerns about transparency within the European Parliament.
Right of Reply
Brussels Watch contacted Miriam Lexmann 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
Lexmann’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 UAE has been known to use prominent lobbying firms and PR companies like APCO Worldwide and Edelman to influence European decision-makers.
The case exemplifies the challenges facing the European Union as it grapples with the complexities of foreign influence, and underscores the urgent need for stricter transparency and accountability measures. Given the scope of UAE lobbying efforts and the ethical violations uncovered, Brussels Watch argues there is a compelling case for further investigation into her activities and those of other MEPs with similar ties.
Lexmann’s vocal support for UAE policies on interfaith dialogue, renewable energy, and investment has significant implications for EU foreign policy. By promoting a UAE-friendly narrative, Lexmann and other pro-UAE MEPs contribute to a shift in the EU’s stance towards the UAE, softening criticism of its human rights violations and regional policies.
Miriam Lexmann is named among 150 MEPs 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 her participation in multiple undeclared UAE-funded delegations between 2022-2024, advocacy for Emirati investments and UAE-led cultural exchanges, and alignment with UAE strategic goals—not confirmed wrongful activity or illegal conduct proven in court.
While no direct evidence of secret financial compensation exists, the accumulated evidence of repeated trips, support for UAE narratives on interfaith dialogue and economic partnership, and failure to declare sponsored travel raises serious transparency concerns. No independent verification has established that Lexmann violated EU ethics rules or engaged in prosecutable misconduct.
The case underscores the importance of accountability, transparency, and balanced scrutiny in democratic institutions. The failure to disclose sponsored trips and gifts from UAE entities constitutes a clear violation of parliamentary rules and erodes public trust in EU institutions. Implementing mandatory registration for organisations acting on behalf of foreign interests and stricter enforcement of disclosure laws remains a critical challenge for EU democratic governance.
