US technology giants have established a dominant presence in Brussels, engaging more frequently and spending substantially more on lobbying activities than their European counterparts, according to an analysis of EU transparency data. Since the European Parliament elections in June 2024, Google, Apple, and Amazon have each held more meetings with senior officials at the European Commission and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) than any individual European company.

The data reveals that Google led with 302 meetings, followed by Apple with 257 and Amazon with 239 over the same period. Among European firms, only TotalEnergies, Volkswagen, and Airbus appeared in the top 20 for meeting frequency. US companies have also outspent European industry groups, with Apple allocating approximately €9 million annually and Meta over €10 million—exceeding the combined spending of Total, Volkswagen, and Airbus, which amounts to up to €8.7 million.

The lobbying efforts focus primarily on the EU’s evolving digital regulations. Google, for instance, held 22 meetings related to the bloc’s digital omnibus legislation, which has been criticized for diluting proposed AI rules by granting corporations broader latitude in processing personal data. Amazon, Apple, and Google have also engaged with policymakers on proposed rules regarding cloud services and online safety for children.

US firms’ influence in Brussels comes amid ongoing tensions between the European Union and the United States over digital policy. The EU has aimed to reduce reliance on American technology firms as part of its “tech sovereignty” agenda, prompting threats of tariffs by the Trump administration in response to European regulatory initiatives.

Raphaël Kergueno of Transparency International expressed concern about the disproportionate access granted to US companies compared to European businesses, urging scrutiny of policymakers’ engagements. Google, Amazon, and Apple have emphasized that their interactions with EU officials reflect the complexities of navigating new regulations relevant to their operations and customer interests. Airbus, Volkswagen, and TotalEnergies declined to comment.

Beyond Big Tech, the EU transparency register lists nearly 18,000 organizations—including corporations, trade associations, and advocacy groups—that seek to influence EU policies. Lobbying activity has surged since 2016, doubling in number and scope.

Environmental organizations rank among the most active lobbyists. WWF and Transport & Environment (T&E) have each held over 400 meetings since mid-2024, surpassing even the American Chambers of Commerce and the Chinese government, which have held 396 and 359 meetings respectively. However, these groups have struggled to impede efforts to weaken parts of the EU’s climate agenda, often engaging primarily with Green and left-leaning MEPs who constitute a minority in the 720-seat parliament.

William Todts, director of T&E, noted increased difficulty in accessing members of the European People’s Party (EPP), the largest parliamentary group, which has advocated for reducing regulatory burdens on European industries. He described such efforts as a “Trojan horse for business lobbies” aiming to not only simplify legislation but also to reverse existing environmental protections.

An EPP spokesperson acknowledged that MEPs choose their meeting partners freely but asserted that green NGOs no longer wield the influence they once had. In contrast, US business interests have met with lawmakers across political lines. The American Chambers of Commerce (AmCham EU) reported that at least 22 meetings this year addressed the “omnibus” regulations easing restrictions on pesticides and other environmental protections.

Malte Lohan, director of AmCham EU, said that advocating for less regulatory burden aligns with broader European industry goals, a view echoed by BusinessEurope, the EU’s largest industry lobby group.

Overall, over 63 percent of meetings recorded in the EU’s transparency register involved companies or business associations, while NGOs and think tanks accounted for roughly 23 percent. MEPs also held some 29,000 encounters with organizations not registered as lobbyists, including diplomatic missions and think tanks such as the US-based Heritage Foundation.

While the Chinese mission in Brussels emphasized its regular and friendly exchanges with EU institutions to promote stable bilateral relations, the Heritage Foundation did not respond to requests for comment.

The European Parliament requires MEPs to declare all meetings but recommends engagement only with registered interest representatives. The Commission is permitted to meet solely with registered groups. Transparency International has called for closing existing loopholes to ensure MEPs and their staff interact exclusively with officially registered lobbyists.