Lobby Association "Mobil in Deutschland": Sanctions Due to HVO100 Campaign

In the affair surrounding a lobbying campaign by the car club "Mobil in Deutschland" for the supposedly environmentally friendly fuel HVO100, the Bundestag administration has imposed sanctions against a lobbying association for the first time ever, due to a violation of the code of conduct for lobbyists. The organization of the Munich CSU politician and club founder Michael Haberland claimed a "non-existent close relationship with the target of the interest mediation," explained the administration. As a result, the club's representatives are no longer allowed to obtain daily passes for the Bundestag for two years, meaning they are no longer free to move around the parliamentary building. The representatives are only permitted to enter Parliament as guests of members. Additionally, they are to be excluded from participating in public hearings of Bundestag committees or being involved in legislative procedures for two years. This makes it more difficult to represent the interests of the members in Berlin.

Six months ago, the ZDF magazine Frontal reported on the practice of the automobile club to market access to ministers. In a presentation, the "opportunity to introduce oneself and exchange ideas with a minister or state secretary at an exclusive VIP meeting" was advertised for 9,900 euros per year. The Federal Ministry of Transport under Volker Wissing (formerly FDP, now independent) had rejected "any allegations of unlawful influence." State Secretary Oliver Luksic, who, despite concerns from his own department, had taken on the sponsorship for the campaign "HVO100 goes Germany," immediately paused his activities.

However, after a three-month "summer break," the association is now active on Instagram again, promoting both its services and the supposedly environmentally friendly fuel HVO100.