EU: NGOs demand Portuguese EU Presidency puts public interest centre stage

64 civil society organisations have called on the forthcoming Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU - in post from January-June 2021 - to ensure corporate interests do not receive privileged access to decision-making; to ensure an absolute minimum of dealings with lobbyists for the fossil fuel industry; publish records of meetings with lobbyists; reject any form of sponsorship for its activities; improve legislative transparency by publishing minutes of meetings; and to publish its positions on new EU legal proposals prior to discussions in the Council.