Big Tech eclipses traditional diplomacy in Brussels lobbying

Since the inauguration, U.S. organizations have conducted roughly 2,500 meetings with European Parliament members. This activity is heavily skewed toward the technology sector, with Google, Apple, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft collectively holding more meetings than the U.S. Mission to the EU and the American Chamber of Commerce combined. While traditional diplomatic outreach has seen a decline, corporate lobbying has risen by approximately 12 percent, largely driven by an aggressive push to reshape or dismantle EU digital regulations like the Digital Markets Act.

Surprisingly, this lobbying effort ignores the far-right factions ideologically aligned with the current U.S. administration. Instead, American firms focus their attention on the political center, particularly the European People’s Party, which maintains the committee power necessary to influence digital policy. Even when these companies engage with fringe groups, the strategy appears calculated; researchers note instances where giants like Meta have targeted right-wing parties specifically to leverage their potential voting blocs against existing regulations.

This influence extends beyond direct meetings. Analysts point to a growing ecosystem where corporate interests are laundered through think tanks and advocacy groups, increasingly including U.S.-based organizations focused on social issues. Meanwhile, the intensity of this engagement has left some lawmakers under scrutiny, notably Aura Salla, who has faced criticism for her dual role as a high-engagement MEP and her professional history as a former Meta lobbyist. As references to the United States in EU parliamentary speeches triple, it is clear that American pressure on the bloc’s regulatory framework has entered a new, more intensive phase.