Swiss-based firms spend tens of millions lobbying Brussels

Thelikes of tobacco company Philip Morris invest millions in trying to influence EU lawmakers. Keystone / Laurent Gillieron

Companies based in Switzerland spent between €44 million and €60 million (CHF48-66 million) lobbying European Union bodies, according to the monitoring organisation Lobbywatch.

The chemicals industry invested the most money (up to €8.4 million) in presenting their arguments to top EU officials on proposed regulations, legislation and other matters. The Swiss-based Dow Europe spent up to €2.75 million while pharmaceutical company Novartis weighed in with upwards of €2.5 million and crop protection firm Syngenta spent some €1.75 million.

The pharma industry came second in the list of sector-based spendersExternal link, followed by banks and the environmental industry. Tobacco firms collectively invested some €2.4 million in Brussels last year.

Lobbywatch collated its data from the EU’s transparency registerExternal link, which contains information on 275 companies and organisations with their headquarters in Switzerland. Companies must publish their lobbying expenditure in bandwidths of spending. Switzerland has rejected such transparency to monitor lobbying.