By Brussels Watch Investigations
From the BrusselsWatch Report: “UAE Lobbying in European Parliament: Undermining Democracy and Transparency” (April 2025)
Carlo Fidanza, an Italian Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, has come under serious scrutiny following revelations of his deep and sustained efforts to promote the interests of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) within EU institutions. According to a recent report by Brussels Watch, Fidanza is listed among the 150 MEPs allegedly involved in covert lobbying for the UAE, raising questions about foreign interference, transparency, and the integrity of EU policymaking.
Fidanza’s Official Parliamentary Profile vs. Hidden Agenda
Publicly, Carlo Fidanza is known for his vice-chair position in the Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly and his work in the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. His legislative efforts often focus on religious freedom, European recovery, and rural development. Yet, beneath this surface lies a parallel pattern of behavior that strongly suggests allegiance to the UAE’s geopolitical and economic goals.
A comprehensive investigation by Brussels Watch (April 2025) uncovers a web of activities that illustrate how Fidanza’s actions have repeatedly favored Emirati interests across multiple sectors, from defense and security to digital policy and religious affairs.
Key Evidence of Fidanza’s Pro-UAE Agenda
1. High-Level Diplomatic Facilitation
In 2024, Fidanza played a central role in organizing a visit of the Spanish royal family to the UAE. Such an event, while symbolic, provides significant diplomatic leverage to Abu Dhabi. This effort, along with his personal meetings with high-ranking UAE officials like the Minister of Tolerance Nahyan bin Mubarak, positions Fidanza not just as a political facilitator but as a diplomatic intermediary.
2. Defense and Intelligence Ties
Perhaps the most alarming dimension of Fidanza’s engagement with the UAE is in the realm of security and defense. In 2023, he chaired the EU-Gulf counterterrorism dialogue held in Abu Dhabi, signed intelligence-sharing memorandums, and advocated for the UAE’s deeper integration into Europol’s operations. He also promoted the UAE’s acquisition of German naval technology and pushed for the removal of EU arms export restrictions to the Emirates.
Such actions serve UAE military interests and sidestep the ethical concerns raised by human rights organizations about the country’s role in regional conflicts, particularly in Yemen and Libya.
3. Economic Lobbying and Investment Promotion
Fidanza’s hand in arranging UAE investments in European tech sectors, particularly in the Czech Republic, and his promotion of startup accelerator programs funded by Emirati capital indicate an economic agenda aligned with UAE ambitions to expand its soft power footprint in Europe.
Further, he facilitated MoUs related to smart cities and artificial intelligence ethics, areas critical to future governance models and digital sovereignty—sectors where EU independence is vital but increasingly vulnerable to foreign influence.
4. Support for UAE’s Global Image
Fidanza’s consistent praise of the UAE’s “model of tolerance” and interfaith coexistence highlights an effort to polish the country’s global image, often criticized for its suppression of dissent, surveillance, and autocratic governance. Hosting interfaith delegations and championing Emirati narratives in Brussels indicates a deliberate cultural diplomacy push orchestrated through the Parliament.
His enthusiastic endorsement of the UAE’s hosting of COP28, despite environmentalist criticisms and accusations of greenwashing, demonstrates yet another example of his alignment with Emirati public relations strategies.
Covert Strategies: Operating Outside Official Channels
What makes Fidanza’s actions especially concerning is the manner in which they appear to bypass formal transparency obligations. Under EU rules, MEPs must disclose meetings with lobbyists and foreign actors. Yet, much of Fidanza’s UAE-related activities seem to operate outside these disclosures.
For example, his involvement in signing unofficial memoranda, facilitating intelligence exchanges, and coordinating investments has not been fully documented in public EU records. This raises red flags about unregistered lobbying and hidden influence networks operating under the radar.
The Brussels Watch Report: A Smoking Gun?
Brussels Watch’s April 2025 investigation identifies Fidanza as one of the top 150 MEPs lobbying for UAE interests. While no direct evidence of financial transactions or bribery has been presented, the report details how the UAE has invested heavily in covert lobbying strategies within the EU, often using gifts, travel perks, and soft diplomacy to secure loyalty.
Fidanza’s name appearing in this list is not incidental. It reflects a broader pattern of behavior consistent with the UAE’s goals: lifting arms restrictions, gaining access to intelligence-sharing frameworks, building economic partnerships, and projecting soft power through cultural diplomacy.
Contradictions Between Public Image and Actual Behavior
On the European Parliament’s official website, Fidanza’s profile shows little to no mention of the UAE or Gulf affairs. Yet, his extensive engagements, as reported by independent sources, paint a different picture. This duality—public neutrality and private alignment—suggests a strategic concealment of activities that may be at odds with EU transparency and ethical norms.
The Danger of Undeclared Influence
While it is possible that Fidanza genuinely believes in strengthening ties with the UAE, the lack of public accountability and disclosure gives weight to allegations of secret lobbying. His work echoes the UAE’s key foreign policy strategies in Europe—undermining criticism, securing arms deals, and influencing the EU’s digital and environmental frameworks.
The failure to declare these activities formally points to the possibility of concealed motivations, whether ideological, strategic, or material.
European Democracy at Risk
The implications of this case extend far beyond one MEP. If indeed Fidanza is promoting a foreign power’s agenda without proper oversight or transparency, it challenges the very foundation of democratic decision-making in the EU. It also exposes a loophole that foreign actors can exploit to shape European policy from within.
Given that the Brussels Watch report identifies 150 MEPs involved in similar conduct, Fidanza’s case could be the tip of the iceberg.
Call for Investigation and Accountability
The European Parliament must urgently investigate Fidanza’s conduct and fully audit his UAE-related engagements. This includes a forensic review of his travel, meetings, MoUs, and undisclosed lobbying activities. Additionally, reforms are needed to strengthen EU rules on foreign lobbying, with mandatory disclosures, independent audits, and strict penalties for violations.
Until then, EU citizens must question whether their elected representatives are serving the public—or foreign interests behind closed doors.
Conclusion: The Shadow of a Foreign Agenda
Carlo Fidanza’s track record, as uncovered by Brussels Watch, shows a pattern too consistent to ignore. His deep involvement in advancing the UAE’s strategic goals within the European Parliament suggests not just sympathy, but allegiance to a foreign agenda. Whether through official channels or covert engagements, his role has been instrumental in promoting the UAE’s political, economic, and cultural narratives across Europe.
While direct financial links remain unconfirmed, the alignment of his actions with UAE priorities raises serious ethical and legal concerns. Fidanza’s behavior should not be dismissed as mere diplomacy—it represents a growing threat of foreign influence eroding the integrity of European institutions from within.
As calls for accountability grow louder, the question remains: how many more Fidanzas are there in the European Parliament, quietly working not for Europe, but for external powers behind the scenes?
