The European Commission has taken an unprecedented step by severing all ties with lobbying groups associated with Huawei, signaling a potential future expulsion of the Chinese technology company from the European market—a move advocated by some parliamentary voices. This decision follows a corruption scandal involving several Brussels-based lobbyists. It has also rekindled suspicions about Chinese influence within EU institutions, predominantly supported by the European People’s Party (EPP) and the Socialists and Democrats (S&D).
The European executive announced that it will no longer engage with associations or intermediaries representing Huawei. This measure extends to all departments and commissioners’ cabinets. It supplements the existing ban on direct contact with company representatives, in effect since March. The catalyst was a judicial investigation in Belgium, resulting in charges against at least eight individuals—including a senior Huawei executive in Europe—for active corruption, money laundering, and participation in a criminal organization.
This curtailing of relations with the Chinese multinational had been under consideration within the Commission for some time. However, it has not been implemented until now for various reasons, including the legal complexities of a complete ban and the fact that part of the EU institutions’ technological infrastructure relies on Huawei products.
The European Parliament has also preemptively suspended Huawei lobbyists’ access to its facilities in Brussels, Strasbourg, Luxembourg, and other locations. Nevertheless, the measure has several loopholes. One is the use of visitor passes, which are easier to obtain and could allow company representatives indirect entry. Another significant gap is representation through industry groups—such as DigitalEurope or GSMA—where Huawei remains listed as a member or collaborator.
In fact, Huawei’s entry in the EU Transparency Register still lists at least 22 associations in which it participates. Some have already suspended their relationship with the company, but others maintain a low profile or have opted to “monitor the situation.”
Beyond lobbyists: the use of Huawei devices
The Parliament and the Commission are also considering the possibility of completely banning the use of Huawei devices on their networks and internal applications. Although some devices have already been restricted for corporate use, there are still no clear rules regarding their general use within EU premises. A letter signed by 41 Members of the European Parliament urges Commission presidents Ursula von der Leyen and European Parliament president Roberta Metsola to extend the ban to include all devices from the Chinese company, similar to the action taken against TikTok in 2023.
The company, for its part, has maintained a defensive stance. It reiterates its “zero tolerance” towards corruption and states that it will cooperate with the authorities. However, its future at the heart of Europe has never been more uncertain.
It is conceivable that this situation is also being managed with an eye toward negotiations with the United States, as any gap left by China is likely to be filled by Washington as a preferred partner.
