The FPC tirelessly lobbies for the Euro, but as their Mark Leonard frankly acknowledges -the democratic deficit is the biggest problem facing Europe today-.

They have an unusual way to fight this lack of democracy: FPC launched a -Next generation democracy- project paid for by a lobbying firm: Weber Shandwick Adamson -kindly sponsor- the project, which includes democratic events like a conference for the -high-flyers from the successor generation- of the continent.

Weber Shandwick Adamson are a Brussels-based lobbying firm, formerly known as Adamson BSMG run by millionaire -high value- donor to the Labour Party, Paul Adamson. His firm help big business dominate the EU. Among the firm-s clients were the Chemical Industries Association, who used Adamson to fight restrictions on the use of phthalates – chemicals used in children-s toys which may disrupt the body-s hormones . Adamson-s firm also worked for the -Endocrine Modulators Study Group-, a front for the European Chemical Industry Council, a trade group fighting legislation on chemicals affecting people-s endocrine systems. In a brochure distributed at Labour-s conference, the firm also boasted: -We advised and advocated on behalf of a major US automaker regarding proposed new EU fuel quality emission standards- and -we advised the European and US pharmaceutical industries in securing the adoption of key laws in the field of biotechnology-.

Adamson is a long-term supporter of the FPC. He regularly chairs FPC meetings at Labour conferences paid for by his firm, with speakers including Robin Cook and Keith Vaz. His firm funds the centre-s publications, including a pamphlet with words by Tony Blair , which was launched by Peter Mandelson at a reception that was also sponsored by Adamson BSMG.

The FPC is also funded by the international lawyers and Euro-lobbyists Clifford Chance. The firm boast of -helping a client to advocate implementation of an EU Directive in ways which would minimise its adverse effects;- and -developing a strategy for a food manufacturer to deal with pressure group activity-.

They boast that Robin Cook, Keith Vaz, Peter Mandelson and Lord Simon are among the -major speakers at events organised or supported by Clifford Chance-. The firm won these trophy speakers by sponsoring events like the Foreign Policy Centre-s -Network Europe- or -Corporates in a Global Society- launches. Clifford Chance also insist -we have been active in the PPP/PFI market in the UK since its inception in the early 1990s. We remain at the forefront of the spread of this work across Europe and beyond-.

Both Clifford Chance and Adamson have also worked hard to push the GATS treaty and ensure this agreement will push international privatisation in the name of -globalisation-. The Centre published a pamphlet by former World Bank official Michael Edwards arguing that NGOs opposing globalisation were -Luddites, extremists and the leftover left-.

The FPC argued -Many NGOs are seen to be guilty of propagandising the ongoing debate about globalisation; for example, by using emotive pictures of starving African children in campaigns to force western countries and institutions to cut third world debt-.

The FPC insisted to Red Pepper that money is taken with -no strings attached and no effect on editorial decisions- and that there were -clear guidelines- about who they would accept money from and this excluded -arms firms-. However, the FPC is sponsored by two firms who supply mercenaries: Control Risks Group and the Armor Group fund the FPC-s research into international kidnapping. The Centre-s spokesman said they had no problems with these firms because -there is a legitimate private security industry-. Both Control Risks Group and Armor Group were named as among the new style, respectable mercenary firms who should be licensed and legitimised in Jack Straw-s recent Green Paper. Straw is also launching his own new pamphlet on Foreign Affairs through the FPC.

Asked by Red Pepper whether the FPC was just another way to help business meet government, a spokesman responded that this was -a bit absurd- or even -Puritanism-. These were -not big sums of money and if multinationals want to talk to government they can anyway-.

Other multinationals that fund the FPC include Accenture , BP, Diageo, Hiscox, Interbrand, KPMG, and Rio Tinto.