The Deceptive Tactics of the Consumer Choice Center: An Unregistered Lobby Group

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The Deceptive Tactics of the Consumer Choice Center: An Unregistered Lobby Group

Introduction:

The so-called Consumer Choice Center, a libertarian pressure group, has advocated against green regulations in the EU without being registered as a lobby group, DeSmog can reveal.

EU Transparency Rules:

EU Transparency Rules

It appears that Consumer Choice Center’s activity puts it in breach of EU transparency rules, which require lobbyists to declare their activities on the EU Transparency Register.

Importance of Transparency:

Importance of Transparency

“Anyone who seeks to influence policymaking, or decision making of EU institutions should be on the register,” said Green MEP Daniel Freund. “It makes no difference whether that’s a meeting, an email, an op-ed, or a giant billboard in front of the European Parliament.”

Minimal Sanctions:

Minimal Sanctions

However, the rules are not legally-binding, and organisations in breach face minimal sanctions. According to transparency campaigners, this allows groups like Consumer Choice Center to “try and influence the Brussels bubble without respecting transparency”.

Funding Sources:

Funding Sources

Consumer Choice Center, based in Washington DC, styles itself as a consumer advocacy group that “represents consumers in over 100 countries across the globe”. However, on its website, which lists 62 staff members, the group says that it has previously been funded by the energy, chemical, and airlines industries and does not publish its current sources of finance.

Lobbying Expenditure:

Lobbying Expenditure

The group spent €250,000 on EU lobbying in 2020 and employed 16 lobbyists. Vicky Cann from LobbyFacts said it was “absolutely fundamental” for organisations to publish their funding sources. “We need to understand why an organisation is advocating certain positions,” she said.

Removal from EU Lobby Register:

Removal from EU Lobby Register

DeSmog understands that the group was removed from the EU’s lobby register in May 2022 following a quality check by the secretariat aimed at detecting potential inaccuracies, errors or omissions in the register. The group’s removal from the register also followed the introduction of new lobbying rules requiring more transparency over funding sources, which were brought in last March.

Connections to US Big Oil:

Connections to US Big Oil

Consumer Choice Center was established in 2017 by the libertarian advocacy group Students for Liberty, which is funded by the Koch oil network. Students for Liberty has received almost $1m [€910,000] in funding since 2009 from the philanthropic organisations of Charles Koch, who co-owns Koch Industries — one of the largest privately-held companies in the US — which trades heavily in oil and gas.

Questionable Donations:

Questionable Donations

Between 2017 and 2019, Students for Liberty received donations of over $100,000 from the Atlas Network, an alliance of libertarian think tanks that has received funding from Koch foundations and fossil fuel firms. Members of the Atlas Network have campaigned against legislation to limit greenhouse gas emissions and have questioned the presence and severity of human-caused climate change.

Anti-Green Lobbying:

Anti-Green Lobbying

Consumer Choice Center has been a vocal opponent of green legislation in the EU. Prior to its removal from the EU Transparency Register, the group published policy briefings that opposed plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035. It also criticized targets to reduce chemical pesticides and fertiliser use and increase organic farming. Its campaigns have also seemingly sought to turn public opinion against net zero pollution reduction targets.

Conclusion:

The tactics employed by the Consumer Choice Center to influence EU policy without transparency and its connections to US Big Oil raise questions about the organization’s true motivations. As citizens and lawmakers, it is essential that we remain vigilant and hold lobbying groups accountable for their actions.