A new analysis by The Financial Times shows that Apple has met with EU policymakers 257 times since June 2024 and has spent between €8 million and €9 million per year on lobbying. Apple trails Google among major tech lobbyists in Brussels.
In a report released today, The Financial Times said that “Google, Apple and Amazon each have more meetings with officials at the European parliament and European Commission than any individual European company.” According to the report, Apple spends €9 million a year on lobbying in the EU capital, more than what Total, Volkswagen, and Airbus spend combined.
American corporations have used their influence in Brussels to push back against the bloc’s digital rules. The FT gathered data from meetings held since June 2024 and found that Apple met with EU policymakers 257 times, second only to Google with 302 meetings. Amazon ranked 14th with 239 meetings, while WWF topped the overall list with 431.
When asked about these efforts, Apple and Amazon told The FT that “they engage with policymakers on topics that are important to their customers and their businesses.”
Source: 9to5Mac · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing