Amazon is seeking to regain its lobbying privileges with the European Parliament after they were suspended earlier this year due to the company’s lack of cooperation. However, European lawmakers have outlined clear conditions that must be met before they will consider restoring Amazon’s access to Parliament.
Sources have confirmed that the Employment Committee (EMPL) in the European Parliament has decided that Amazon must attend a formal hearing and arrange for Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to visit one of its European fulfillment centers before any decision is made regarding the restoration of lobby access. This move follows Amazon’s previous failure to engage with lawmakers in response to multiple invitations.
In 2021 and 2024, the committee invited Amazon to discuss labor conditions at its EU facilities, but the company declined both invitations. Additionally, planned site visits to fulfillment centers in Poland and Germany were canceled. As a result, the committee revoked the access badges for 14 of Amazon’s lobbyists, a decision that was praised by over 30 trade unions across Europe.
On October 10, Amazon’s Director of EU Public Policy, James Waterworth, sent a letter to Li Andersson, chair of the EMPL, expressing the company’s commitment to engage with the committee and offering another invitation for MEPs to visit its facilities. A spokesperson for Amazon reiterated that the company is eager to resolve the concerns of lawmakers and maintain its long-standing relationship with the European Parliament.
“We are committed to working with the committee to address their concerns and continue our dialogue with European policymakers,” the spokesperson said. “We hope to restore our productive engagement with MEPs, which has lasted for over 25 years.”
Oliver Roethig, Regional Secretary of UNI Europa, supported the committee’s decision to set strict conditions for Amazon’s lobbying privileges. “It is essential that workers’ voices and trade unions are included in any discussions about conditions in Amazon’s warehouses,” Roethig said.
French MEP Leïla Chaibi, from The Left group, responded firmly. “Amazon has repeatedly ignored our requests and shown disregard for the concerns of its workers. We will continue to hold the company accountable and demand transparency. When their representatives finally appear before the committee, we will ensure they answer all our questions, and any visits to their facilities will be conducted on our terms, without interference or conditions imposed by Amazon.”
