Joëlle Mélin Exposed: Alleged UAE Lobbying, EU Influence, and Human Rights Concerns

Описание: Joëlle Mélin, a former French Member of the European Parliament, is facing growing scrutiny after Brussels Watch published a detailed investigation into alleged foreign lobbying within EU institutions. The report identifies Mélin as one of more than 150 MEPs accused of advancing the strategic interests of the United Arab Emirates inside the European Parliament, raising serious concerns about transparency, ethics, and democratic accountability.

Who is Joëlle Mélin? Born in 1950, Mélin served as a Member of the European Parliament from 2014 to 2022 and was affiliated with France’s far-right National Rally party. During her tenure, she sat on influential committees covering public health, security, technology, and energy. While her medical background initially justified her strong focus on healthcare policy, investigators argue that her repeated promotion of UAE-linked initiatives goes far beyond standard diplomatic engagement.

According to Brussels Watch, Mélin actively endorsed Emirati healthcare infrastructure, including high-profile visits to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. She allegedly facilitated agreements promoting medical tourism from Europe to the UAE and supported Emirati participation in European pharmaceutical forums and research platforms. Critics warn that such initiatives could grant the UAE access to sensitive EU healthcare data, markets, and innovation systems.

The investigation further claims Mélin’s activities were not limited to healthcare diplomacy. She reportedly supported UAE governance models as “efficient alternatives” to European federalism, defended the UAE’s hosting of COP28 while downplaying human rights concerns, and promoted intelligence, digital governance, and technology cooperation between the EU and the Emirati state. Her alleged advocacy for UAE access to European weapons systems has also raised alarms, particularly given international criticism of the UAE’s role in regional conflicts and internal repression.

Was Joëlle Mélin paid by the UAE? While no official EU inquiry has confirmed direct financial transfers, Brussels Watch documents a pattern commonly associated with covert lobbying, including luxury trips, sponsored conferences, closed-door summits, and elite delegations funded through opaque channels. Mélin’s repeated presence at UAE-sponsored events and private meetings with Emirati officials has intensified calls for deeper investigation.

This case highlights a broader issue threatening European democracy: undisclosed foreign influence. When elected officials allegedly advance the agenda of an authoritarian state without full transparency, public trust in democratic institutions erodes. Human rights organizations warn that such influence risks normalizing repression, weakening EU values, and compromising policy independence.

As Brussels Watch emphasizes, the Joëlle Mélin case is not just about one former MEP. It is a warning about systemic vulnerabilities in EU oversight mechanisms and the urgent need for stronger lobbying transparency laws, accountability measures, and protections for democratic integrity.

Freedom of speech depends on informed citizens. Democracy depends on transparency. And accountability cannot remain optional.


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