The options, discussed in a meeting Tuesday, include “recommending … an extension of the current European Parliament lobbying ban to include third-party lobbying firms representing Amazon’s interests, not just Amazon employees,” the note read.
Such a step would considerably raise the stakes by threatening the access of lobbyists belonging to dozens of interest groups and organizations of which Amazon is a member or affiliated with in Brussels, including powerful tech lobby groups like DigitalEurope, CCIA Europe, ITI and others.
Two Parliament officials, granted anonymity to disclose details from the closed-door meeting, said no formal decision had been taken yet.
Despite the current restrictions, the Big Tech firm has still been able to meet with members of the European Parliament at those members’ invitation. The NGO Transparency International counted at least 64 meetings since the start of the new term last year.
Lawmakers in the committee also weighed whether to “call on the European Commission to review public contracts awarded to Amazon,” though it acknowledged that “most, if not all, such contracts relate to web services and therefore fall outside the direct remit of the [employment] committee.”
A further option floated at the meeting was organizing another public hearing with Amazon at the committee.
