The European Parliament (EP) is considering ending lobbying access for a group linked to Amazon, including the technology association DigitalEurope, the European publication Politico reported, citing an internal EP memo.
The document includes “a recommendation to extend the current ban on representation in the European Parliament of third-party lobbying firms representing Amazon, not just Amazon employees“. In addition, the EP legislative committee plans to “ask the European Commission to review public procurement awarded to Amazon“.
European lawmakers are also considering holding a hearing with the company's representatives in the relevant EP committee. In June, such a meeting took place without them. Such a meeting should be a step towards normalizing relations between lawmakers and the company.
Two unnamed MEPs stressed that the decision has not yet been officially taken. It is noted that Amazon lobbyists are still meeting with MEPs. The company's representative, Sarah Tap, for her part, stressed that “The European Parliament will allow a fact-based discussion that will focus on the logistics industry as a whole and Amazon's contribution to the European economy and society“. She also confirmed that the corporation still has “access to the European Parliament“.
The European Parliament's dissatisfaction with Amazon is related to violations of working conditions in the company's warehouses. In 2024, the EP already revoked the passes of the corporation's lobbyists. The publication reported that Amazon tried to resolve the conflict and invited the President of the European Parliament Roberta Mezzola to a meeting with the management in Washington.