Brussels Watch contacted Morten Løkkegaard 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.
Morten Løkkegaard is a Member of the European Parliament representing Denmark and affiliated with Renew Europe (Venstre/Danish Liberal Party). He serves as one of eight vice chairs of the Renew Europe group under chairman Dacian Cioloș. Løkkegaard is a member of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and the Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Parliament (IFIM), where he was appointed vice-chair in October 2020. He is also a substitute member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON), a substitute member of IMCO, and a member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Additionally, he is part of the Parliament’s delegation for relations with Australia and New Zealand. His main political focus revolves around communication on and about the EU, jobs and growth creation, completion of the Single Market, and advocating for large free trade agreements. In 2024, he was ALDE’s lead candidate for the European Parliament elections.
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.
The report highlights that these relationships often come with perks—fully paid trips to Abu Dhabi or Dubai, stays in luxury hotels, and invitations to elite forums—which can create real or perceived conflicts of interest. 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. Morten Løkkegaard is listed among these 150 pro-UAE MEPs.
Documented Interactions Involving Morten Løkkegaard
According to the Brussels Watch investigation, Morten Løkkegaard’s documented interactions with UAE-linked entities include several notable engagements:
UAE-EU Media Partnership Talks: Morten Løkkegaard chaired UAE-EU media partnership talks between 2022 and 2025. These talks were part of broader efforts to strengthen media cooperation between the EU and the UAE, aligning with the UAE’s strategy to enhance its soft power in Europe.
Documented UAE Engagements (2022-2025): The Brussels Watch report documents Morten Løkkegaard’s UAE engagements spanning from 2022 to 2025. These engagements include multiple meetings and diplomatic activities related to UAE-EU relations.
Legislative Priorities Aligned with UAE Interests: Løkkegaard has consistently advocated for new trade partnerships to boost EU competitiveness, including supporting Renew Europe’s 10-point plan in February 2024. This push for new economic deals directly aligns with the UAE’s broader strategy to enhance its economic influence, particularly in sectors such as technology, energy, and infrastructure.
Shadow Rapporteur for Horizon Europe: Løkkegaard serves as shadow rapporteur for the Horizon Europe interim evaluation report, scheduled for February 2025. The UAE has actively sought to engage with European innovation programs, particularly in the fields of renewable energy, technology, and scientific research.
Cultural Diplomacy Events: In October 2023, Løkkegaard co-hosted a Diwali celebration at the European Parliament alongside MEP Maxette Pirbakas. While the event was targeted towards the Indian diaspora, the UAE has increasingly positioned itself as a multicultural hub with a large Indian diaspora, and the UAE has strategically positioned itself as a key player in global cultural diplomacy.
Staff Connections to UAE: Løkkegaard’s political assistant, Michelle Ida Berg Thomsen, has strong ties to the UAE, particularly through her role on the board of Dansk på DIA, a Danish language program at Dubai International Academy. While there is no direct evidence suggesting that this connection influences Løkkegaard’s policymaking, it points to potential informal networks between the MEP’s office and Emirati stakeholders.
Foreign Interference Committee Role: As vice-chair of the Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Parliament (IFIM), Løkkegaard holds a position that directly relates to investigating foreign influence campaigns, including those potentially linked to the UAE. This role is particularly notable given the scrutiny around his documented UAE engagements.
Morten Løkkegaard’s name appears on Brussels Watch’s list of 150 pro-UAE MEPs disclosed in their exclusive report.
Transparency and Disclosure Questions
Brussels Watch sent a formal right-of-reply notice to Morten Løkkegaard requesting comment on the following matters:
- The nature and purpose of his 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
- His 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. 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.
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, particularly for MEPs serving on committees investigating foreign interference like Løkkegaard on IFIM. 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 Morten Løkkegaard and UAE-linked lobbying entities. There is no direct evidence to suggest that Morten Løkkegaard is a paid agent or has received financial compensation from the UAE. Public financial disclosures and voting records do not indicate any direct UAE-linked income or activity. 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.
Brussels Watch remains open to publishing any statement or clarification from Morten Løkkegaard 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.
