Table Of ContentPALGRAVE STUDIES IN
EUROPEAN UNION POLITICS
Series Editors: Michelle Egan, Neill Nugent
and William E. Paterson
LOBBYING IN THE
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
The Battle for Influence
Maja Kluger Dionigi
Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics
Series Editors
Neill Nugent
Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester, UK
William E. Paterson
Aston University
Birmingham, UK
Michelle Egan
American University
Washington DC
USA
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Maja Kluger Dionigi
Lobbying in the
European Parliament
The Battle for Influence
Maja Kluger Dionigi
Think Tank Europa
Copenhagen, Denmark
Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics
ISBN 978-3-319-42687-7 ISBN 978-3-319-42688-4 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-42688-4
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016956472
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A
cknowledgements
It all started in the European Parliament (EP) back in March 2007. I was
attending a meeting of the Committee on Transport and Tourism, taking
minutes on the debates on “the EU-US Open Skies Agreement” for the
Permanent Representation of Denmark to the European Union. During
the committee meeting, several members of the European Parliament
(MEPs) uttered their discontent with one of their colleagues. This was
because one MEP had tabled an amendment and forgotten to delete the
logo of the company who had drafted it. The incident made me wonder
how much influence interest groups have on the EP’s reports. This later
led me to write this book on lobbying influence in the EP.
I am indebted for all the support, help, and feedback I have received
along the way. First and foremost, I thank my former PhD supervisor and
colleague Edward Page. I am grateful for his constructive feedback, guid-
ance, and unstinting support. Ed has not only sowed many seeds on his
office windowsill but also planted the seed for my personal development
as a researcher. I am also grateful to Martin Lodge, David Coen, and the
anonymous reviewers for Palgrave Macmillan for their careful reading of
my chapters and useful suggestions. I owe a special thank to the 150 inter-
viewees who kindly gave up precious time to talk with me and gave me
invaluable insights into the nuts and bolts of lobbying in Brussels. I hope
they enjoyed it as much as I did.
The Department of Government at the London School of Economics
and Political Science (LSE) was my academic home when I conducted
the research for the book. I extend my gratitude to Helen Addison,
Annie Bird, Julie Anna Braun, Sonia Bussu, Julio Gonzales Eva Heims,
v
vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Alexander Herzog, Christel Koop, Hans Trees, Jon Rahbek-Clemmensen,
and many more for interesting discussions and for making academic life
more enjoyable. Writing the book would not have been the same with-
out the many hours spent with Amy Busby, Ariadna Ripoll-Servent, and
Alexander Mackenzie in Brussels and elsewhere discussing the inner life
of the EP.
From February 2010 to August 2011, I was based at the Centre for
European Policy Studies (CEPS) during my fieldwork in Brussels. I thank
Piotr Maciej Kaczyński and Daniel Gros for providing me with office
space and for introducing me to the life of a Brussels think tank. I also
thank my current workplace Think Tank Europa for showing interest in
my work and for providing an inducive work environment. This study
would not have been possible without funding from the Danish Council
of Independent Research. I also thank the Journal of Common Market
Studies and the journal of Interest Groups and Advocacy for giving me per-
mission to use previously published materials.
During the research for this book, I had the opportunity to discuss and
receive fruitful comments on my work in progress at numerous confer-
ences and workshops. For stimulating comments, I thank Paul Taggart,
Tim Bale, David Lowery, Aron Buzogany, Michael Shackleton, Jan Beyers,
Francis Jacobs, Dan Keith, Anne Rasmussen, David Earnshaw, Charlotte
Burns, and Rudi Wurzel. Last but not least, I express deep gratitude to
my family, who have always backed my endeavours unconditionally. Their
generosity and support cannot be overestimated. If anyone deserves a
thank-you, it is Filippo for always being there.
c
ontents
1 Introduction 1
2 Where, When, and How Does Lobbying Take Place in the
European Parliament? 13
3 What Are the Conditions for Interest Group Influence? 37
4 Regulating CO Emissions for Vans: Is the European
2
Parliament Still a Defender of Environmental Interests? 51
5 Food Information to Consumers: Variation in Lobbying
Success Across Issues 75
6 When Lobbying Produces Clear Winners and Losers:
Regulating Working Time 97
7 When Lobbying Becomes Counterproductive:
The Maternity Leave Directive 121
8 Conclusion 149
vii
viii CONTENTS
Appendices 165
Bibliography 177
Index 195
A
bbreviAtions
ACEA European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association
AGRI European Parliament’s committee on Agriculture and Rural
Development
ALDE Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
BEUC European Consumer’s organisation
BoP Back of pack
CEEP The European Centre of Enterprises with Public Participation
Ceereal The European Breakfast Cereal Association
CEPS European Wine Spirits Organisation
CIAA The Confederation of Food and Drink Industry (now known as
FoodDrinkEurope)
CLECAT The European Association for forwarding, transport, logistic, and
customers services
CO Carbon dioxide
2
COFACE Confederation of Family Organisations in the European Union
Commission European Commission
COREPER Committee of Permanent Representatives
Council Council of the European Union
DG Directorate-General
DG SANCO Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection
DTL Danish Transport and Logistics Association
ECR European Conservatives and Reformists Group
EDA European Dairy Association
EFDD (former EFD) Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy group
EEA European Express Association
EFA European Food Safety Authority
EHN The European Heart Network
ix
