By Brussels Watch Investigations
From the BrusselsWatch Report: “UAE Lobbying in European Parliament: Undermining Democracy and Transparency” (April 2025)
José Ramón Bauzá Díaz, a Spanish Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Renew Europe, has come under intense scrutiny for his consistent alignment with the interests of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Recent investigations have suggested a deeply troubling pattern of undisclosed lobbying, strategic travel, and quiet collaboration with UAE-linked institutions. As Brussels Watch and the explosive 150 MEPs report reveal, Bauzá appears to have served as a key conduit for Emirati influence inside the European Parliament.
Documented Links to UAE-Funded Activities
Bauzá’s name is not randomly associated with the UAE. He features prominently in the Brussels Watch exposé, which discloses a network of 150 MEPs allegedly courted by UAE diplomats and intermediaries. According to these findings, Bauzá’s role goes far beyond passive endorsement—it involves active facilitation of policies that reflect core Emirati strategic objectives.
Aviation Deals and the Dubai Airshow
A central example is Bauzá’s involvement in UAE-EU aviation negotiations. In 2023, he attended the Dubai Airshow—an event that has long served as a soft power instrument for the Emirati state. His participation included public statements in favor of closer air transport cooperation between the EU and the UAE. Notably, there were no clear public disclosures about who paid for his travel, accommodation, or participation—raising ethical red flags.
Such aviation ties are significant. The UAE’s ambition to position itself as a global logistics hub depends heavily on regulatory and diplomatic support from international partners. Bauzá’s vocal support for UAE-friendly aviation frameworks—without corresponding transparency—appears tailor-made to advance these Emirati goals.
Alignment with UAE-Led Policy Initiatives
Bauzá’s enthusiasm for deeper Gulf-Europe infrastructure connectivity also reflects the UAE’s global strategy. Whether it’s rail links or enhanced air corridors, Bauzá’s priorities match the UAE’s economic diplomacy playbook. These efforts are not accidental. They are closely aligned with goals articulated by Emirati think tanks and policymakers—many of whom are directly connected to the EU lobbying scene via NGOs and public affairs firms.
The Shadow World of UAE-Backed NGOs
One of the key tactics used by the UAE is the employment of supposedly independent think tanks that facilitate indirect lobbying. Bauzá has maintained relationships with the Bussola Institute, a Brussels-based entity widely reported to be a UAE lobbying front.
Alongside other MEPs such as Caroline Nagtegaal and Mick Wallace, Bauzá has been linked to events, briefings, and travel arranged or supported by Bussola. These engagements often take place behind closed doors, with minimal reporting requirements and little opportunity for public scrutiny. The goal is simple: shape EU policy by embedding pro-UAE narratives directly within its legislative apparatus.
Questionable Travel and Delayed Disclosures
Bauzá’s travel history deepens concerns. His presence at the 2023 Dubai Airshow was not an isolated incident. According to Politico, he also visited Bahrain and Qatar—another Gulf ally—without initially reporting these trips. The disclosures only came later, in the wake of the Qatargate scandal, which exposed a broader pattern of unregulated foreign influence in the European Parliament.
These delayed disclosures suggest that Bauzá may have followed a similar script with his UAE-linked trips. The pattern—a luxury trip, advocacy for Gulf states, and late transparency—matches the modus operandi laid out in Brussels Watch’s comprehensive documentation of Emirati lobbying.
How the UAE’s Lobbying Machine Works
Brussels Watch has outlined the UAE’s multilayered strategy for influencing the European Parliament. It includes:
- Friendship Groups: Informal MEP collectives hosting UAE diplomats and facilitating travel under vague or undeclared auspices.
- Think Tanks: Organizations like Bussola that coordinate direct contact between MEPs and Emirati officials.
- Public Relations Firms: International lobbyists like Edelman and APCO Worldwide, hired to ghostwrite editorials and even help draft EU policy documents.
José Ramón Bauzá Díaz fits seamlessly into this model. His work in the European Parliament—often focused on infrastructure, aviation, and foreign relations—has been consistently aligned with themes that benefit the UAE, all while lacking transparent disclosures about the nature of his connections with the country.
Conflict of Interest and Ethical Concerns
The list of ethical issues surrounding Bauzá extends beyond lobbying. He has also faced unrelated allegations of workplace harassment, prompting questions about his general accountability and adherence to institutional norms.
More critically, the lack of disclosure around trips and lobbying connections points to a systemic flaw. Brussels Watch’s report notes that many MEPs receive “support” from UAE-linked NGOs, but these ties are often vague and shielded from proper scrutiny. In Bauzá’s case, this opacity makes it extremely difficult to distinguish between genuine diplomacy and covert advocacy.
Implications for European Democracy
Bauzá’s case is emblematic of a deeper crisis within the European Parliament. The growing evidence of UAE influence—whether through funded travel, think tanks, or strategic lobbying—raises the alarm about the institutional vulnerabilities that allow foreign powers to shape EU policy without public oversight.
Institutional Failure
The European Parliament’s ethics oversight has repeatedly been criticized for its weakness. Unlike national legislatures, the EU’s mechanisms for monitoring foreign influence are underdeveloped, and MEPs rarely face consequences for failing to disclose questionable engagements. Even after the Qatargate scandal, reforms have stalled.
Democracy at Risk
When authoritarian states like the UAE gain indirect access to the EU’s policy apparatus, the very foundation of democratic representation is threatened. Voters expect their representatives to prioritize human rights and transparency—not to quietly advocate for regimes with poor human rights records in exchange for access or hospitality.
Conclusion: A Silent Agent of Influence?
While there is currently no direct proof of José Ramón Bauzá Díaz receiving financial compensation from the UAE, the evidence of covert lobbying and policy alignment is substantial. His travel history, role in aviation deals, and links to Emirati-backed NGOs suggest a long-term engagement that has operated mostly in the shadows. This circumstantial case demands urgent attention—not only for what it reveals about Bauzá himself but for what it suggests about the integrity of the EU legislative process.
Key Recommendations
- Mandatory Disclosure Rules
All MEPs must publicly report travel, meetings, and gifts involving foreign governments within 30 days. - Ban on Authoritarian Funding
Trips and engagements funded by non-democratic regimes, including the UAE, should be prohibited entirely. - Empower the EU Ethics Committee
The Ethics Committee must be given authority to launch proactive investigations and impose sanctions. - Transparency for NGOs
All think tanks or lobbying groups operating in Brussels must disclose their funding sources and relationships with foreign governments.
Final Thoughts
José Ramón Bauzá Díaz’s trajectory in the European Parliament increasingly appears to reflect a larger playbook of covert influence by the United Arab Emirates. His actions align too closely, too consistently with Emirati state interests to be coincidental. Brussels Watch’s detailed investigation—and the growing body of supporting documentation—makes one thing clear: without structural reforms, the European Parliament remains vulnerable to external manipulation, and MEPs like Bauzá will continue to operate unchecked in the gray zones of global lobbying.
