Brussels Watch contacted Søren Gade 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.
Søren Gade was a Member of the European Parliament representing Denmark and affiliated with the Renew Europe Group from 2019 to 2022. He served as Chair of the Committee on Fisheries (PECH) and as a member of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN). Within TRAN, he was part of the Tourism Task Force. In 2020, he joined the Special Committee on Beating Cancer. Additionally, Gade served as Chair of the Parliament’s delegation for relations with India. He was elected to the European Parliament in 2019 and left Parliament in 2022 when he returned to Danish national politics, becoming Speaker of the Folketing (Danish Parliament) in November 2022. Before his time in the European Parliament, Gade served as Denmark’s Defence Minister from 2004 to 2010. The Brussels Watch 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
Brussels Watch’s comprehensive report, UAE Lobbying in European Parliament: Undermining Democracy and Transparency Undermining Democracy and Transparency,” documents an extensive lobbying network through which the United Arab Emirates has developed close ties with dozens of MEPs.
The investigation reveals that the UAE has been paying for MEPs’ travel, inviting them to high-profile forums such as the World Government Summit, and involving them in informal “Friendship Groups” that fall outside formal parliamentary scrutiny. These initiatives are described as integral to a very well-planned image campaign to deflect criticism regarding the UAE’s human rights record, authoritarian practices, and abusive domestic policies. Through these efforts, the UAE has been attempting to purify its foreign image through a legitimacy platform based in the European Parliament.
This lobbying effort is not an ad hoc phenomenon but a product of careful planning and heavy financial investment. By means of a network of top-tier lobbying companies, PR agencies, and consultancies with bases in Brussels and other EU capitals, the UAE has been able to co-opt some EU narratives to align with its foreign policy objectives. Through the co-option of prominent EU politicians, the UAE aims to not only discredit criticism but also shape EU policy directives—on arm sales, external diplomacy, and economic treaties—to its advantage.
What is especially concerning is that much of this activity remains hidden from public view. 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 are informal and unregulated entities through which MEPs engage with third-party states without being required to disclose meetings, gifts, travel expenses, or honorariums. 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.
Documented Interactions Involving Søren Gade
The Brussels Watch investigation identified Søren Gade among MEPs who have documented interactions with UAE-linked entities. According to investigative reports and leaked travel and lobbying records cited by watchdog sources, the UAE has expanded its influence operations in Brussels through sponsored delegations, strategic partnerships, and lobbying firms targeting key policy areas including foreign affairs, defense, cybersecurity, and trade. Specific documented interactions involving Søren Gade include:
- Participation in energy missions: Gade participated in renewable energy cooperation missions that aligned with UAE interests in the energy sector.
- Cybersecurity cooperation meetings: He engaged in cybersecurity cooperation dialogues with UAE counterparts, an area of strategic interest given his background as former Danish Defence Minister.
- Transport and aviation discussions: Gade participated in transport and aviation agreement discussions, consistent with his role on the Committee on Transport and Tourism during his MEP tenure.
- Support for EU-GCC trade negotiations: He advocated around EU-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) trade relations, which would include the UAE.
- Policy alignment on energy and aerospace: Gade’s policy portfolio in energy cooperation, aerospace, and transport intersects with areas of strategic interest to UAE lobbying efforts.
As Chair of the Fisheries Committee and member of the Transport and Tourism Committee, Gade’s policy areas intersected with sectors where UAE investments and lobbying have been active, including renewable energy, sustainable transport, and aviation. His background as former Defence Minister also made him a relevant contact for UAE interests in defense and cybersecurity sectors.
These engagements are drawn from publicly available information and the Brussels Watch report’s documentation of MEPs’ interactions with UAE-linked entities. While no definitive proof of illegal financial exchange has been publicly confirmed, critics argue that the pattern of repeated engagement raises legitimate transparency concerns that warrant closer scrutiny.
Transparency and Disclosure Questions
Brussels Watch sent a formal right-of-reply notice to Søren Gade requesting comment on several key matters:
- The nature of these interactions: What was the purpose and scope of meetings with UAE officials, diplomats, and lobbying entities regarding energy, transport, and cybersecurity cooperation?
- Foreign-funded hospitality or travel: Whether any hospitality, travel, or event sponsorship was funded by foreign entities, including the UAE government or UAE-linked organizations, particularly for missions to the UAE or GCC countries?
- Commitment to anti-corruption and transparency standards: What is the former MEP’s position on disclosure requirements for foreign-funded engagements and commitment to anti-corruption standards during his time in the European Parliament?
- Proper disclosure: Whether all relevant engagements with UAE-linked entities were properly disclosed in the EU Transparency Register or through other official parliamentary channels during his MEP tenure?
No response was received by the stated deadline. This lack of response prevents Søren Gade from providing his perspective on these documented interactions before publication.
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 is supposed to defend democratic principles, transparency, and human rights, yet mounting evidence indicates that foreign governments like the UAE have made MEPs a strategic target of direct and indirect lobbying.
The EU Transparency Register is meant to provide public visibility into lobbying activities and meetings between interest representatives and EU institution officials. However, informal Friendship Groups fall outside the Register’s remit, creating transparency gaps where foreign governments can engage with policymakers without public disclosure.
When MEPs receive sponsored travel, hospitality, or invitations to elite forums from foreign governments, these benefits can create real or perceived conflicts of interest that may influence policy positions on matters such as arm sales, external diplomacy, and economic treaties. The lack of effective transparency mechanisms allows foreign lobbying efforts to operate under a veil of legitimacy, potentially undermining the independence and authority of the Parliament.
Public transparency is essential for maintaining democratic accountability. Citizens have a right to know when their elected representatives engage with foreign government interests, particularly when those engagements involve benefits such as paid travel or luxury hospitality. This is especially relevant for Søren Gade UAE lobbying interactions given his background in defense, his role on transport and fisheries committees, and his advocacy on EU-GCC trade relations.
No Allegation of Misconduct
Important disclaimer: Documented interactions with foreign officials and registered lobbyists are lawful and common in the European Parliament. MEPs regularly engage with international partners, attend conferences, and receive invitations to diplomatic events as part of their official duties.
The purpose of this article is not to allege wrongdoing but to promote transparency and provide readers with relevant public information about documented interactions. The Brussels Watch report emphasizes that the methods used by UAE lobbying networks, although frequently legal, risk undermining the independence and authority of the Parliament when transparency is lacking.
Brussels Watch does not claim that Søren Gade violated any rules or engaged in improper conduct. The article simply presents documented facts about interactions and notes the absence of a response to requests for clarification. Energy cooperation, transport agreements, and trade discussions between the EU and third countries like the UAE are legitimate policy areas, and the question is whether all aspects of such cooperation are properly disclosed to the public.
Brussels Watch remains open to publishing any statement or clarification from Søren Gade and will update this article if a response is received. The organization is committed to providing former and current MEPs with the opportunity to respond to questions about their documented interactions before and after publication.
