Apple doubles its lobbying expenditure in the European Union

Apple released in 2025 more money for lobbying in EU institutions than always before results from the latest data of the organisation Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO). According to the report, the company allocated around EUR 7 million ($8.2 million) actions to influence the form of European regulation on the digital sector.

Apple among the largest technology lobbyists in Europe

According to the report, Apple was in the top 10 major technology companies in terms of EU lobbying expenditure. These 10 entities are jointly liable for EUR 49 million spent on lobbying activities — out of the full amount EUR 151 million reported in EU Transparency Register 2025.

By comparison, in 2021 Apple declared spending at the level of EUR 3.5 to 3.75 million, which means that within 4 years the company almost doubled his investment European lobbying.

Regulations that origin the top emotions

The Corporate Europe Observatory explains the increase in expenditure by expanding regulatory force from Brussels. In 2025, the European Commission worked intensively on implementation Digital Markets Act (DMA), Digital Services Act (DSA), AI Act and enforcement GDPR (GDPR).

Apple participated in 29 formal meetings with advanced officials of the European Commission from January to June 2025. For comparison, Amazon held 43 specified meetings, Microsoft 36, Google 35, and Meta 27.

The most frequently discussed subject was Artificial intelligence – appeared in 58 of 146 registered meetings of the 5 largest American technological giants with the Commission. another issues are cloud infrastructure and data centres (23 meetings), Digital Services Act (17), Digital Markets Act (16) and Planned Digital Fairness Act (16).

Cooperation with Euro MPs and advisory companies

Apple besides actively maintains contact with Members of the European Parliament – participated in 47 of 232 meetings, which in the first half of 2025 were held between Euro MPs and representatives of the 5 largest US companies. Meta was the leader (63 meetings), hereinafter Amazon (49), Google (47) and Microsoft (34).

The study besides shows that around €2.3 million from Apple's full budget for lobbying was allocated to contracts with consulting and PR companies. By comparison, Amazon spent EUR 2.84 million in this category and Meta spent EUR 1.5 million.

Higher spending – greater regulatory risk

According to CEO analysts, Apple's expenditure increase is simply a natural reaction to the fact that the company is straight subject to each of the key EU government on large Tech. European regulations are increasingly affecting issues specified as privacy, interoperability or beginning ecosystems to competition – and Apple, as iPhone owner, App store and services specified as Apple Music or iCloud, has more and more to lose in this region.