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Effective lobbying at the EU
Leading businesses recognize how involvement in the EU policy making process alongside other parts of civil society and other interests is crucial to shaping their operating environment, but it is still surprising how often businesses are unaware of legislation and how it can affect them.
Lobbyists are not in the business of 'formal power' but of 'influence'. For them the formal powers and procedures, set by any new treaty, only partially determine 'how it really works'. The already existing informal ‘trialogue’ between Commission, EP and Council on dossiers is now intensified and even extended with an informal dialogue between Commission and EP only. These meetings the lobbyists should monitor and target for their delivery of support or opposition more intensely. For the purpose of opposition (‘negative lobbying’), they can try to mobilise national parliaments. The new arrangements for the Commission's delegated and implementing powers give more opportunities to them as well.
More Machiavelli in Brussels: Prof. Van Schendelen about Lisbon Treaty and Lobbying
After considering the effects of the Lisbon Treaty and incorporating new and more data about recent advanced research and analyses on lobbying a new book was born: “More Machiavelli in Brussels”.
Brussels business: effective lobbying at the EU
Leading businesses recognize how involvement in the EU policy making process alongside other parts of civil society and other interests is crucial to shaping their operating environment, but it is still surprising how often businesses are unaware of legislation and how it can affect them.
By: N. Peter Kramer