EU Lawmaker Under Scrutiny for Undisclosed US Trips, Potential Conflicts of Interest
A European Parliament member is facing mounting calls for investigation following revelations he failed to properly disclose multiple trips to Washington D.C., where he met with advisors to former President Donald Trump and figures linked to efforts to weaken EU climate legislation.
Jörgen Warborn, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Moderate Party in Sweden, is accused of breaching ethical rules by not reporting travel and accommodation expenses paid for by third parties, specifically the International Democracy Union (IDU), a global network of conservative and right-wing political organizations. The allegations, brought to light by Aftonbladet, raise concerns about undue influence and the potential compromise of EU policy.
The Washington Connections
Between autumn 2024 and December 2025, Warborn made at least three trips to the US capital. While he reported a trip to Nairobi, Kenya, where his travel and lodging were covered by a German right-wing think tank, no such disclosures were made for his visits to Washington. According to Warborn’s own statements, the IDU covered his accommodation during a December 2025 trip.
These trips coincided with meetings with key figures associated with the Trump administration and conservative organizations actively seeking to reshape the EU’s approach to climate change. In December 2024, Warborn attended an IDU Forum where he was present for congratulatory remarks to Trump on his “historic victory” by Republican Chairman Michael Whatley and alongside Trump’s national security advisor Michael Waltz. Meetings were also held at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that authored “Project 2025,” a blueprint for a potential second Trump administration.
A May 2025 delegation trip and another IDU Forum in December of the same year saw Warborn engage with figures like former Republican Governor Sununu, who has questioned climate science consensus, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He also participated in a panel discussion with Congressman Brian Jack, a close political advisor to Trump, and representatives from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the American Petroleum Institute (API), both organizations with a history of lobbying against climate legislation.
Concerns Over the Omnibus Legislation
The scrutiny surrounding Warborn’s trips stems from his role as the rapporteur for the EU’s Omnibus I legislation, a legal package that ultimately resulted in weakened climate and sustainability requirements for companies. Critics allege that his contacts in the US and his failure to disclose them raise questions about potential conflicts of interest and whether external pressures influenced the final outcome of the legislation.
“This is obviously a violation of the ethical rules,” stated Alina Mungiu-Pippidi, a leading expert on corruption and EU governance at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin. She added that such violations are common and often go unpunished, normalizing undue influence among politicians.
Broader Implications for EU Democracy
Experts warn that Warborn’s case may be indicative of a larger trend. Joachim Koops, President of the Global Governance Institute, described the situation as “a symptom of a larger problem,” pointing to increasing collaboration between center-right parties, the European far-right, and the American MAGA movement. He warned that this collaboration “threatens the EU’s democracy, independence and climate policy.”
Transparency International EU echoed these concerns, calling for stricter rules regarding the disclosure of parliamentarians’ trips and advocating for the EU Parliament to cover travel costs to eliminate reliance on external funding.
Warborn’s Response and Calls for Investigation
Warborn has declined to provide an interview, initially canceling a scheduled press conference and subsequently failing to respond to written questions from Aftonbladet. In an email, he dismissed the accusations as “unfounded” and a “politically motivated attempt to cast doubt on my work.” He defended his record on free trade, stating his work is “anti-Trump.”
Despite his denials, calls for a thorough investigation are growing. Jytte Guteland, a former EU climate law chief, drew parallels to the “QatarGate” scandal, where EU parliamentarians were arrested on suspicion of accepting bribes. She urged the Moderate Party to launch its own internal inquiry. Alice Bah Kuhnke, an EU Member of Parliament, called for a special investigation at the EU level, stating, “We cannot have EU parliamentarians making laws in favor of foreign powers.”
The unanswered questions surrounding Warborn’s trips and his connections to US political figures demand scrutiny, raising fundamental questions about transparency, accountability, and the integrity of EU policymaking.
