In a recent communication with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has declined to expedite the review of the EU's lobbying register.

This response follows concerns regarding a suspected influence campaign involving Chinese technology giant Huawei, currently under investigation by Belgian authorities for alleged corrupt practices including a cash-for-influence scheme affecting EU lawmakers.

In her letter, von der Leyen acknowledged a March request from the Parliament’s informal anti-corruption forum which requested an urgent review of the transparency register.

The register, designed to provide oversight of lobbying activities, has been criticized for lacking sufficient measures to regulate embassies and non-registered lobbyists.

While the Commission is set to conduct a scheduled review of the transparency register in 2025, von der Leyen suggested that the upcoming review should serve as an opportunity to evaluate whether the existing framework satisfactorily meets its objectives.

In her remarks, she emphasized that the register is not equipped to handle criminal activities such as bribery or fraud.

There remains concern regarding loopholes that may enable Huawei-affiliated lobbyists to access EU institutions despite an interim suspension on meetings with the company.

Daniel Freund, the lead MEP for the Parliament’s anti-corruption intergroup, expressed apprehension that lobbyists connected to Huawei might still gain access through visitor passes or by linking with registered umbrella organizations.

In response to the ongoing lobbying scrutiny, the European Parliament has imposed tighter rules, mandating that all lobbyists log their visits in advance and activate identification badges.

Addressing additional governance issues, von der Leyen's letter indicated that no former Commission staff had reported taking up positions with Huawei within two years of leaving the institution, as mandated by existing regulations.

Typically, personnel are required to inform the Commission of any new employment that might conflict with their former roles.

On the matter of technological integrity, von der Leyen confirmed that Commission staff are required to utilize official corporate tools for their communications and that Huawei does not provide any such devices for Commission use.

The President also outlined new initiatives aimed at enhancing the EU's anti-fraud capacity and cross-border criminal justice collaboration, tasking Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath with exploring ways to grant the European Public Prosecutor’s Office expanded powers to investigate transnational offenses.

Concurrently, Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin is leading a comprehensive evaluation of the EU's anti-fraud framework to improve interinstitutional cooperation.

In related discussions, Poland’s Trade Minister Michał Baranowski stated that the EU will not pivot towards China in response to potential trade conflicts with the United States.

Emphasizing the independence of the EU's relationship with Beijing, Baranowski's remarks reflect concerns over China's ongoing efforts to negotiate stronger ties with Europe amidst escalating tensions with the US.

The backdrop of these discussions includes China's recent export restrictions on crucial materials, which have exacerbated EU-China tensions and prompted collective EU measures to limit Chinese suppliers' involvement in public contract bids.

Meanwhile, EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič's discussions with US counterparts signal ongoing efforts to stabilize transatlantic trade relations amidst turbulent negotiations.

Overall, these issues highlight the complexities of EU governance in navigating lobbying transparency and international trade amidst geopolitical challenges.