New coalition on transparent lobbying publishes first report

News

13 February 2017

Lobbywatch’s investigation into the approval of the pesticide glyphosate shows how corporate capture – where business interests determine government policy – works and what the risks are.

The European licence for the use of the controversial pesticide glyphosate expired in the summer of 2016. However, during the discussion on extending the product’s licence, Dutch State Secretary for Economic Affairs Martijn Van Dam changed his position several times. At first, he planned to vote for renewed licencing of glyphosate on behalf of the Netherlands. After a political debate, he decided to vote against the decision. Ultimately, Van Dam changed his mind again and voted in favour of a temporary extension. Lobbywatch has decided to investigate these striking reversals made by the secretary of state.

Read the entire article here (Dutch only).