Amazon lobbyists face expulsion from the European Parliament after union and social groups request
The request to strip insignias from Amazon’s lobbyists gained support from more than thirty organizations and unions, who urged the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, to revoke access because the representatives did not attend a meeting about working conditions in the company’s warehouses.
The gathering had been organized by the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, taking place on January 23. Amazon declined the invitation, saying it “was not a good day.” Unions say this is not an isolated incident: in 2023 Amazon canceled a visit to its warehouses, and in 2021 it also failed to appear at a hearing on working conditions.
This marks the second time the Parliament has applied Rule 123 to expel lobbyists representing a company: in 2017, it expelled Monsanto for not attending a hearing about glyphosate. In the Amazon case, fourteen lobbyists will be barred from access.
The Parliamentary body then moved to address the situation with a firm stance. The decision was described by observers as a clear line against antidemocratic conduct by Amazon toward unions and parliamentary members, according to Oliver Roethig, the regional secretary of UNI Europa. He added that this constitutes a significant victory for Amazon workers and their unions across Europe.
Amazon associates told El Periódico de España, part of the Prensa Ibérica group, that they were “disappointed” by the ruling. They stressed that they take seriously their relationship with Brussels-based politicians and European Union institutions. The company asserted it regularly participates in activities organized by the European Parliament and other EU bodies, including various parliamentary hearings, and reaffirmed its commitment to engaging in a balanced and constructive dialogue on topics affecting European citizens.
Representatives of Amazon say invitations have been extended to the Employment and Social Affairs Committee to tour their facilities on multiple occasions. They stated that the invitation remains open and expressed a desire to showcase investments that modernize, make appealing, and secure workplace environments.
Dragoş Pîslaru, a eurodeputy, told Politico.eu that the Parliament could reconsider the decision if Amazon shows a willingness to cooperate. The signatory organizations welcomed the expulsion, underscoring that the European Parliament has drawn a red line: unacceptable conduct toward workers or their unions will not be tolerated. The stance was echoed by UNI Europa’s regional secretary and other labor representatives, who framed the expulsion as a decisive win for workers across the continent.
In the letter signed by unions and organizations, concerns were reiterated about Amazon increasing its lobbying footprint in Europe in recent years, both in Brussels and in markets where it operates, including Ireland, Germany, and France. The company has faced scrutiny over labor conditions and worker surveillance, and it has previously been investigated and fined in the United States for monopoly concerns.
According to a report by the Corporate Europe Observatory, Amazon has invested 19 million euros in these activities since 2013. The same source notes a 2022 figure of 2.7 million euros dedicated to this effort, highlighting a sustained and expanding lobbying footprint across Europe.
As this controversy unfolds, the debate continues about the balance between corporate lobbying, worker protections, and democratic accountability within the European Union. The episode underscores the ongoing tension between a major multinational and the institutions that oversee labor standards, market fairness, and consumer interests across Europe.