News 12.05.2026

Coca-Cola is back on the EU Presidency table

  • politics and law

The Council’s own documents show EU Presidency sponsorship remains unresolved. Coca-Cola’s sponsorship of the Cypriot Presidency proves voluntary guidelines are not enough.

When Coca-Cola sponsored the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2019, foodwatch warned that corporate sponsorship of EU institutions was a threat to democracy, transparency and public trust. Seven years later, the problem has not disappeared. 

Cyprus, which holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU from 1 January to 30 June 2026, lists Coca-Cola HBC Cyprus Ltd as a “Gold sponsor” of its Presidency. According to the official Cyprus Presidency website, Coca-Cola is supplying bottled water and carbonated drinks for high-level and other Presidency meetings.  

This is not just a question of drinks at meetings. The Presidency of the Council helps steer EU negotiations and represents Member States in talks with other EU institutions. When multinational companies are allowed to sponsor activities linked to a Presidency, the public is right to ask: what do companies get in return, and where does that leave democratic independence? 

The Ombudsman is still pushing the Council 

The latest correspondence from the Council responding to a letter from foodwatch points to three official documents showing that the issue remains alive at EU level. In March 2024, the European Ombudsman opened a new strategic initiative to follow up on the Council’s handling of Presidency sponsorship after the guidance adopted in 2021.  

In September 2024, the Ombudsman closed that initiative - but not because the problem had been solved. She welcomed the Council’s adoption of guidance on sponsorship but concluded that concerns remained and encouraged the Council to assess how these concerns should be addressed when reviewing the guidance.  

The Ombudsman highlighted exactly the problems foodwatch has warned about for years: there is still too little transparency about who sponsors EU Presidencies, what they provide, and what they may gain in return. She also noted that sponsors can still use Presidency logos for commercial purposes, even where the Council logo itself is prohibited.  

The Council admits the discussion is not over 

A Council document from June 2025 confirms that the Ombudsman’s concerns were circulated to all delegations and discussed twice in the relevant Council preparatory body. The Council also stated that a number of delegations were willing to explore measures to address the Ombudsman’s concerns, and that the Council would reflect on possible future updates to the guidance.  

This matters. It shows that pressure works. foodwatch’s 2019 complaint pushed the Council to accept that corporate sponsorship can create reputational risks for the EU. The Ombudsman then recommended guidance for Member States, and the Council adopted guidance in 2021.  

But the Cyprus case shows the limits of voluntary action. The Council’s current guidance only advises Member States to consider reputational risks and avoid conflicts of interest. It also “encourages” transparency, while leaving final responsibility to the Member State holding the Presidency. That is not enough. 

Voluntary guidelines have failed 

foodwatch has written to the Cypriot Permanent Representation to the EU and to the Council, calling on Cyprus to publish the Coca-Cola sponsorship contract and immediately cancel the agreement. foodwatch is also urging the Council to turn the existing guidance into binding rules. 

If goods or services are needed for an EU Presidency, they should be purchased through transparent public procurement procedures - not obtained through corporate sponsorship deals. EU institutions must not offer companies a privileged opportunity to associate themselves with political power. 

The lesson from 2019 is clear. The lesson from Cyprus in 2026 is even clearer: as long as sponsorship remains possible, controversial corporate sponsors will keep finding their way into EU Presidencies. 

The Council must now act. Corporate sponsorship of EU Presidencies must be banned.

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