1. Chapter 12 Interest Groups and the European Union
Chapter by Rainer Eising & Sonia Lehringer
Cini & Pérez-Solórzano Borragán
European Union Politics, 3rd edition

2. Lecture Plan Institutional setting EU democracy and civil society
Chapter 12
Slide 2
Lecture Plan
Institutional setting
EU democracy and civil society
Regulation
European and national interest groups
Europeanization of domestic interests

3. Institutional Setting (1)
Chapter 12
Slide 3
Institutional Setting (1)
Key features of interest groups in the EU
EU as opportunity structure
Financially and structurally supported by EU
Actively included in policy making process

4. Institutional Setting (2)
Chapter 12
Slide 4
Institutional Setting (2)
Key characteristics of the EU
(1) EU is highly dynamic system
(2) Horizontal and vertical differentiation
(3) Consensus building
(4) Perceived legitimacy deficit
(1)-(4) influences interest group behaviour
(1) EU as highly dynamic
Shape of EU impacts number & type of interest groups
Groups develop with EU political agenda

5. Institutional Setting (3)
Chapter 12
Slide 5
Institutional Setting (3)
(2) Horizontal and vertical differentiation
Role varies across pillars, institutions & policy
Pillar 1: Relatively good access to EU institutions
Pillars 2 & 3: Intergovernmental → highly restricted
Commission: most important institution; contact with DGs
EP: increasingly important; less important than Commission & Council; responsive to “diffuse” interests
EU Council: not usually lobbied directly
European Council: little contact with interest groups
ECJ: potentially useful but lengthy & costly process
European Economic and Social Committee (EESC): brings organised interests into policy; minor role

6. Institutional Setting (4)
Chapter 12
Slide 6
Institutional Setting (4)
(2) Horizontal and vertical differentiation
Variation through multi-level system
Different actors for different geographical territories
Multiple points of access
Coordination of action across levels (European, national, regional, local)
(3) Consensus building
Common practice due to unpredictable policy agenda & complex political system
(4) Perceived legitimacy deficit

7. Democracy and Civil Society
Chapter 12
Slide 7
Democracy and Civil Society
Affect upon EU’s democratic deficit
Interest groups boost input & output legitimacy
EU uses external actors to increase efficiency of policy
EU increases functional representation through engagement with citizens’ interests
EU can monitor social change through interests groups

8. Regulation of Interest Groups (1)
Chapter 12
Slide 8
Regulation of Interest Groups (1)
To regulate or not to regulate?
Commission
Preferred self-regulation; now promotes regulation
Sought to increase democracy and legitimacy through transparent and inclusive use of interest groups
Established voluntary register
Includes code of conduct
For review in 2009 (possible upgrade to compulsory)

9. Regulation of Interest Groups (2)
Chapter 12
Slide 9
Regulation of Interest Groups (2)
European Parliament
Concern re. integrity of MEPs
Established register for interest groups
On signature of code of conduct, access pass received
NB In favour of single, compulsory register for lobbyists
MEPs record paid activities & donations received
NB Reservations re. democratic credentials of interest groups (sectoral representation)

10. Regulation of Interest Groups (3)
Chapter 12
Slide 10
Regulation of Interest Groups (3)
Proposed changes
CT (2004)
“The Democratic Life of the Union”
“open, transparent, regular dialogue”
Towards participative democracy
Citizens’ initiatives
Treaty of Lisbon
“Provision on Democratic Principles”
Same features as CT (above)

11. European & National Interest Groups
Chapter 12
Slide 11
“Eurogroups”
National interest groups
Composed of national associations
Provide expertise and seek to persuade EU institutions
Distribute info on EU activities
Fewer functions, fewer resources
More visible at EU level
Intermediaries between national and European
Often internal disaggreement
Composed of individuals
Approach national members of EU institutions & national institutions
Less visible at EU level
Involved when EU policy implemented at domestic level

12. Business Interests Key features
Chapter 12
Slide 12
Business Interests
Key features
80% of groups for producers’/employers’ interests
Sensitive to growth of European agenda
e.g. Business Europe (formerly UNICE) est. 1958
Social partners in social dialogue from mid-1980s
Large firms engage independently & directly
→ “elite pluralism”
Effectiveness varies over time and issue
Why dominance of business interest groups?

13. Diffuse Interests Key features
Chapter 12
Slide 13
Diffuse Interests
Key features
e.g. Social, human rights, religious, etc.
Large groups, broad scope, no clear membership
→ organisational problems
Developed with EU agenda
e.g. European Environmental Bureau (EEB) est. 1974
Largest growth rate in 1990s
Commission and EP provide financial support
e.g. Commission’s Social Platform
Increase legitimacy credentials
To what extent are these groups independent?

14. Europeanization of National Interests
Chapter 12
Slide 14
Europeanization of National Interests
Increased importance of EU policy → Consequences for national interest groups
Reassessment of group interests
Development of a European perspective
Intra- and inter-organisational changes
Possibly enhance/weaken domestic ties
Organisation and issue-specific impacts

15. Chapter 12
Slide 15
Lecture Review
Organisation of interest groups reflects EU shape and agenda
EU interest groups distinct from national
Europeanization
Differences between business & diffuse
Role to promote of democracy & legitimacy?