By Brussels Watch Investigations
From the BrusselsWatch Report: “UAE Lobbying in European Parliament: Undermining Democracy and Transparency” (April 2025)
Andrey Slabakov, a Bulgarian Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from the European Conservatives and Reformists Group and a representative of the VMRO party, has become a focal point in investigations into covert UAE influence within the EU’s democratic institutions. According to a major exposé by Brussels Watch, an independent investigative group tracking foreign lobbying in Europe, Slabakov is listed among 150 MEPs with documented ties to the UAE’s covert influence operations.
While many MEPs attend international conferences and engage in diplomacy, Slabakov’s activities appear far more coordinated, consistent, and aligned with UAE policy interests. His involvement in UAE-aligned initiatives, support for key geopolitical stances, and participation in events tied to UAE soft power suggest a much deeper role—one that positions him as an unofficial agent of UAE influence inside the European Parliament.
UAE-Backed Engagements: Patterns of Political Alignment
Brussels Watch reports show that Slabakov’s record between 2019 and 2024 is peppered with events, meetings, and legislative actions that favor the UAE’s political, economic, and diplomatic agendas. Key examples include:
- Support for UAE-EU island development projects that match the UAE’s strategy of exporting real estate and infrastructure models to Europe, particularly in Eastern European nations like Bulgaria.
- Promotion of nationalist ties between Bulgaria and the UAE, which coincides with Abu Dhabi’s broader approach of partnering with nationalist or populist movements to gain influence through identity politics.
- Active participation in UAE-sponsored heritage and cultural events, which serve as soft power platforms to whitewash the country’s human rights record and enhance its global brand image.
These instances reveal not isolated diplomatic interactions but rather a sustained campaign of alignment with UAE foreign policy objectives.
Slabakov’s Role Within the Parliament: Strategic Positioning
Andrey Slabakov’s parliamentary influence extends beyond symbolic support. As a member of key committees, particularly those related to culture, education, and the environment, he holds strategic positions through which he can quietly integrate pro-UAE narratives into EU policymaking.
In multiple debates and reports, Slabakov has advocated for:
- Closer economic and digital cooperation between the EU and the UAE, reflecting Abu Dhabi’s goal of becoming a regional leader in artificial intelligence and fintech.
- Positive framing of UAE governance models, downplaying democratic concerns and presenting the Emirati system as an example of “stability” and “efficiency.”
- UAE hosting of global events like COP28, even amid intense criticism of greenwashing by rights groups and environmental watchdogs.
According to the April 2025 Brussels Watch report, this kind of consistent advocacy does not merely represent political affinity—it raises red flags about foreign coordination and lobbying.
The Shadow of Undeclared Interests
One of the most troubling aspects of Slabakov’s UAE-linked activities is the lack of transparency surrounding his engagements.
Brussels Watch emphasizes that EU regulations on foreign lobbying are weakly enforced, particularly in regard to informal meetings and attendance at foreign-sponsored events. MEPs are only loosely obligated to declare interactions with non-EU diplomats, and there is no strict requirement to disclose funding sources for travel or hospitality received.
Slabakov’s visible presence at multiple UAE-funded forums—without proper disclosure of who sponsored his travel or accommodations—points to a loophole that foreign states like the UAE exploit to buy soft influence within democratic institutions. In the absence of receipts or official declarations, these trips fall into a gray zone, yet their political value is undeniable.
While hard proof of secret financial payments is elusive, circumstantial evidence, including Slabakov’s aggressive defense of UAE interests and selective silence on UAE human rights abuses, suggests a compromised position. Brussels Watch notes that such behavior is consistent with covert lobbying relationships, where payments or benefits are often channeled indirectly, such as through intermediaries or sponsored NGOs.
A Broader Strategy: UAE’s Soft Infiltration of Europe
Slabakov is not alone in this ecosystem. As part of a larger group of 150 MEPs identified in Brussels Watch’s investigation, he represents the visible face of a much deeper network.
The UAE’s strategic goals in Europe include:
- Influencing digital policy and AI regulation, areas where Europe is a global rule-setter.
- Gaining footholds in defense and technology sectors via investments masked as joint ventures.
- Securing support in multilateral institutions, especially on issues where the UAE seeks legitimacy despite its domestic rights record.
Slabakov’s support helps normalize UAE partnerships and create the illusion of mutual benefit—while shifting real power and influence toward Abu Dhabi. He also lends the credibility of an elected European official to whitewash a regime that has jailed activists, silenced opposition, and taken an authoritarian stance on dissent.
Consequences for European Democracy and Bulgaria’s Sovereignty
At a national level, Slabakov’s actions also impact Bulgaria. His role in building nationalist-aligned bridges to the UAE opens the door for Emirati capital to flow into Bulgarian strategic sectors—energy, real estate, and media—under minimal scrutiny.
This threatens to distort Bulgaria’s foreign policy orientation and anchor it closer to an authoritarian regime, undermining broader EU foreign policy that attempts to promote democratic values, human rights, and strategic autonomy.
More broadly, Slabakov’s case is a warning for EU institutions: if elected representatives can effectively act on behalf of foreign states without accountability, the credibility of the European project is at risk.
Conclusion: Slabakov’s Role Demands Scrutiny and Accountability
The available data paints a compelling picture of Andrey Slabakov as more than a cultural envoy or regional advocate. His actions align too frequently, too precisely, and too quietly with UAE state interests to be mere coincidence. In the context of weak oversight and transparency, this alignment raises the strong possibility that he is acting as a pro-UAE agent within the European Parliament.
The fact that his activities continue with minimal challenge underscores the urgency of reform. The EU must take steps to close lobbying loopholes, enforce mandatory disclosures, and monitor foreign-sponsored political influence with vigilance. Brussels Watch’s findings provide a crucial foundation—but it is now up to EU institutions to act on this intelligence.
Unless the European Parliament enforces stricter mechanisms to prevent such covert alignments, Slabakov’s case may not be an exception—but the blueprint for a new era of stealth foreign influence in European democracy.
