But it’s not the MEPs that are cold… In fact, it was them who once again “froze” the budget for the Commission's advisory groups.
The reasons for this sweeping measure are many. Among others, the striking imbalance in terms of stakeholder representation (with corporate interests reportedly occupying as many as two thirds of all seats) and the conflicts of interest at the heart of these advisory groups as well as their lack of transparency, caused MEPs to call for a budget freeze.
Not only MEPs have shown suspicion regarding the advisory groups. Emily O'Reilly, the European Ombudsman, has also started an inquiry into the composition of Commission expert groups.
Why does this matter? Advisory groups enter the legislative decision-making process at a very early stage. They are the ones who steer the Commission’s proposals, they’ve even been known to draft the actual legislation (Alter–EU). But, with these groups being dominated by
industry players, it would be naïve to expect the resulting proposals to reflect consumer – i.e. European Citizen – interests.
It is hoped that this action will send a strong message to the Commission to act in accordance with the Ombudsman’s recommendations which are expected to crystalize in 2015.
Advisory Groups – formally known as expert groups, are groups of experts in a certain field. They provide input from stakeholders in areas where the Commission lacks internal expertise. They are found across all Directorates-General (DGs) and play a vital role in shaping Commission thinking around new policies and legislation, be it regulation on chemicals or how to tackle tax havens. (Source)