BRUSSELS ― A far-right MEP’s question to the European Commission was partly drawn up by a lobbyist — which was discovered because no one removed the document's track changes.
When Jana Nagyová, of the group Patriots for Europe, wrote to other members of the European Parliament to ask for their support in signing her question, the attachment revealed the input of Rob Vierhout — a vice-president at ethanol producer Alcogroup.
Transparency campaigners say such behavior risks leading to covert influence from lobbyists without the public's knowledge.