By Brussels Watch Investigations
From the BrusselsWatch Report: “UAE Lobbying in European Parliament: Undermining Democracy and Transparency” (April 2025)
Patryk Jaki, a prominent Polish Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and co-chairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group, is facing increasing scrutiny over claims that he has promoted a covert agenda aligned with the interests of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to Brussels Watch and its detailed list of 150 MEPs allegedly acting in favor of UAE goals, Jaki appears to be an integral part of a hidden lobbying network that may be shaping EU policy to suit Abu Dhabi’s ambitions.
Background: Patryk Jaki’s Political Rise
Patryk Tomasz Jaki, born in 1985, has enjoyed a steady rise in Polish and European politics. After serving in the Polish Sejm from 2011 to 2019 and as Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice, he transitioned to the European Parliament in 2019. In December 2024, he was elected co-chairman of the ECR Group, which has significant sway in EU decision-making. As a figure known for his nationalist and conservative rhetoric, his political views have seemingly taken a surprising turn with consistent gestures of alignment toward the UAE.
Brussels Watch Report: Jaki Among 150 MEPs With Pro-UAE Ties
A 2025 investigative report by Brussels Watch reveals that Patryk Jaki is one of 150 Members of the European Parliament who have, over the past three years, engaged in pro-UAE actions. These activities range from legislative support for UAE positions to attending closed-door meetings with Emirati officials. The findings suggest a pattern—not a coincidence—of MEPs acting in concert with a broader Emirati lobbying strategy.
Jaki’s name repeatedly surfaces in connection with:
- Pushing for UAE-Poland legal cooperation agreements.
- Advocating EU resolutions that subtly align with UAE foreign policy.
- Visiting Abu Dhabi’s judicial entities under unclear financial arrangements.
- Participating in undisclosed diplomatic functions that advance the UAE’s interests.
UAE Lobbying Tools and Strategies in the EU
The report outlines a well-structured influence operation by the UAE that has penetrated several layers of the European Parliament. Key tools used by Abu Dhabi to cultivate influence among MEPs include:
1. Sponsored Visits
Jaki has reportedly traveled to the UAE on multiple occasions, with the trips funded by Emirati entities. These visits were not always declared, raising red flags regarding transparency and ethics. According to EU rules, such trips must be disclosed if sponsored, but Jaki has allegedly failed to do so consistently.
2. Lobbying Firms and Legal Backchannels
Major international law firms and PR outfits like Alber & Geiger and DLA Piper are linked to UAE lobbying activities. These firms are known to prepare draft speeches, policy memos, and legislative proposals for MEPs—many of which are later echoed in the Parliament floor by figures such as Jaki.
3. Influence Through Think Tanks
Think tanks such as The Bussola Institute, often backed by UAE-related interests, have hosted events involving MEPs and Emirati dignitaries. Jaki’s participation in several of these gatherings raises concerns about policy being shaped outside public scrutiny.
4. “Friendship” Groups and Informal Caucuses
UAE-EU friendship groups within the Parliament have coordinated Jaki’s participation in policy-shaping events. These groups, operating outside formal parliamentary mechanisms, often blur the line between diplomacy and lobbying.
Lack of Transparency and Ethical Breaches
Central to the controversy is the absence of transparency. Jaki, like many other MEPs named in the Brussels Watch report, has allegedly omitted key disclosures related to gifts, trips, and meetings with foreign actors. This is a direct violation of the European Parliament’s Code of Conduct, which mandates openness about external influences and potential conflicts of interest.
In an era marked by the “Qatargate” scandal and widespread concern over foreign interference in EU institutions, Jaki’s alleged activities escape similar investigation, despite evidence that arguably calls for it. The discrepancy points to possible political shielding or a gap in oversight mechanisms.
Alignment With UAE’s Authoritarian Foreign Policy
The implications of Jaki’s alignment with the UAE go beyond protocol breaches—they strike at the heart of EU values. The UAE is widely criticized for its autocratic rule, censorship, and poor human rights record. By aligning himself with Abu Dhabi’s diplomatic and legal ambitions, Jaki risks normalizing these practices within the European context.
His support for UAE judicial reforms, for instance, has been framed as cooperation. However, critics argue that it serves to legitimize a judicial system widely seen as lacking in independence and fairness. Moreover, his silence on Emirati abuses in Yemen and Libya, despite his vocal stance on similar conflicts elsewhere, reveals a troubling double standard.
Patterns Consistent With Covert Lobbying
Several indicators suggest that Jaki’s pro-UAE actions are not isolated:
- Coordinated Voting Behavior: Jaki often votes in alignment with MEPs from other groups who are also named in the Brussels Watch report, forming a voting bloc favoring UAE-friendly outcomes.
- Copy-Paste Narratives: His public statements about UAE reforms bear striking similarity to talking points distributed by known UAE lobbyists.
- Ongoing Engagement: Even after media exposure of MEPs’ links to foreign powers, Jaki has continued to participate in pro-UAE events, indicating a deliberate alignment rather than accidental association.
What’s at Stake for the EU
The growing influence of foreign states like the UAE within EU institutions has serious ramifications:
- Policy Integrity: European policy risks being skewed to suit authoritarian regimes.
- Democratic Accountability: The electorate is kept in the dark about foreign financial and political influence over their representatives.
- Legal Vulnerability: MEPs’ breaches of ethical codes without consequence erode institutional norms.
The European Parliament must investigate Jaki’s actions and those of other implicated MEPs. Reforms must include stricter financial disclosures, banning foreign-funded travel, and expanding the mandate of ethics oversight bodies.
Conclusion: A Call for Action
The case of Patryk Jaki, as detailed by the Brussels Watch report, paints a concerning picture of foreign infiltration into the European legislative process. His repeated engagements with UAE-funded initiatives, failure to maintain transparency, and echoing of Emirati narratives in parliamentary discourse suggest more than just innocent diplomacy—they suggest covert alignment.
Jaki’s pro-UAE activities mirror the calculated lobbying strategy employed by the UAE across Europe, using soft power, financial incentives, and ideological alignment to cultivate allies. Unless these behaviors are fully investigated and sanctioned, the integrity of the European Parliament will remain at risk.
As calls for accountability grow louder, institutions must choose between complicity and reform. The case of Patryk Jaki offers a defining test of Europe’s commitment to democratic integrity in the face of authoritarian influence.
