Efforts by the European Parliament to impose some form of accountability on so-called 'friendship groups' appear to have been ignored.
These unregulated bodies are sometimes used by MEPs to grant foreign governments closed-door access to the EU institution.
They also circumvent public scrutiny in Brussels, yet can often be found quoted in overseas media outlets as if citing the official position of the European Parliament.
Such groups have caused headaches for official Europ...
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Already a member? Login hereNikolaj joined EUobserver in 2012 and covers home affairs. He is originally from Denmark, but spent much of his life in France and in Belgium. He was awarded the King Baudouin Foundation grant for investigative journalism in 2010.
Nikolaj joined EUobserver in 2012 and covers home affairs. He is originally from Denmark, but spent much of his life in France and in Belgium. He was awarded the King Baudouin Foundation grant for investigative journalism in 2010.