Table Of ContentLobbying in Europe
Public Affairs and the Lobbying
Industry in 28 EU Countries
Edited by Alberto Bitonti
and Phil Harris
Lobbying in Europe
‘Professors Bitonti and Harris have produced a timely, relevant work for any-
one interested in the actual practice and effectiveness of lobbying in Europe. As
Europe moves ever so gradually toward Brussels and the EU as the center of policy
and regulations, so to must corporations and other interests learn to simultane-
ously carry out lobbying in the home country and in Brussels. It is a balancing act
that requires skill and timing – and this work delivers on both.’
— Professor John Mahon,
University of Maine, USA
‘Bitonti and Harris have produced an impressive tome on the dark arts of how
businesses and NGO should seek political influence. No self-respecting public
affairs practitioner should be without this impressive, and thoroughly comprehen-
sive, text surveying lobbying across all of the EU.’
— Professor Paul Baines,
Cranfield University, UK
‘The rich descriptions of lobbying and political processes across Europe provide
a practical handbook for professionals as well as invaluable grist to the mill for
academics and others seeking to better explore the workings of modern European
democracies. It clarifies the role of and demystifies the misunderstood and misrep-
resented profession of lobbying. It also provides valuable insights into the com-
plexities of BREXIT’
— Geoff Allen, AM,
Chairman of Australian Centre for Corporate
Public Affairs and Director ACILAllen Consulting, Australia
‘This is one of those books that gives professional insight into the working and
traditions of European Public Affairs. It is a must read for anybody, lobbyist, gov-
ernment official, academic or student who wants to understand how Europe and
the EU works. It reflects professional lobbyist and quality academic thought. A
guide to lobbying in the EU.’
— Professor Henry Sun,
International Director, Business Research Institute,
University of Chester, UK
Alberto Bitonti • Phil Harris
Editors
Lobbying in Europe
Public Affairs and the Lobbying Industry in 28 EU
Countries
Editors
Alberto Bitonti Phil Harris
IES Abroad Rome University of Chester
Rome, Italy Chester, UK
ISBN 978-1-137-55255-6 ISBN 978-1-137-55256-3 (eBook)
DOI 10.1057/978-1-137-55256-3
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016961690
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A
cknowledgements
In assembling, editing and turning this volume into a reality, we have a
debt of immense gratitude which we need to make towards a number
of key people that we wish to thank for their contribution, support and
presence.
First, all contributors, some of you have never written for an academic
research book, others have, we thank all of you for your enthusiasm, your
patience and unfailing support to the project.
A special thank you to Conor McGrath, whose constant support and
advice has meant so much, and to Simon Bryceson for agreeing to give
us the measured EU view and being such a good friend with principled
advice.
Jim Thurber for his constant friendship and the Center for Congressional
and Presidential Studies and the American University of Washington DC
for all their encouragement, help and academic support.
To Nikos Nikolakakis, your help at critical times was particularly pre-
cious and appreciated.
Giuseppe Mazzei, Micol Bertoni and all the friends of the Public Affairs
Community of Europe and Il Chiostro: this volume was first conceived in
one of our meetings, we hope it will contribute to our battle for greater
transparency.
To our publisher Palgrave for supporting this initiative and being very
patient, and especially Sara Crowley-Vigneau and Jemima Warren, our
great editors, for their support and kindness throughout the journey.
Without your support, this would never have happened.
v
vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Finally, to our wonderful and amazingly supportive wives, Claudia
and Irene, who supported us with empathy, good humour and patience
untiringly even though we were travelling around the world, rebuilding
houses, advising politicians, officials, friends and stuck on keyboards or
in Skype conversations constantly. You deserve a medal, we will celebrate
with a dinner together in the near future. Promise. Thank you.
Alberto Bitonti and Phil Harris
c
ontents
1 An Introduction to Lobbying and Public Affairs
in Europe 1
Alberto Bitonti and Phil Harris
2 The Role of Lobbying in Modern Democracy:
A Theoretical Framework 17
Alberto Bitonti
3 The EU Institutions 31
Simon Levitt, Simon Bryceson and Frederick van Mierlo
4 Austria 45
Peter Köppl
5 Belgium 59
Tine Destrooper
6 Bulgaria 69
Detelina Dineva
vii
viii CONTENTS
7 Croatia 79
Natko Vlahović and Dubravka Sincǐć Ćorić
8 Cyprus 89
Maria Krambia-Kapardis and Christina Neophytidou
9 Czech Republic 103
Štěpán Soukeník, Miloš Gregor and Anna Matušková
10 Denmark 113
Peter Andreas Münster and Andreas Hjørnholm
11 Estonia 121
Ott Lumi and Andreas Kaju
12 Finland 131
Kimmo Collander, Eero Rämö and Urho Blom
13 France 143
Didier Sallé and Francesco Marchi
14 Germany 159
Dominik Meier
15 Greece 171
George Limperis
16 Hungary 177
József Péter Martin and Miklós Ligeti
17 Ireland 195
Gary Murphy
CONTENTS ix
18 Italy 207
Pier Luigi Petrillo
19 Latvia 219
Valts Kalniņš
20 Lithuania 227
Saulius Spurga
21 Luxembourg 237
Paul-Michael Schonenberg
22 Malta 245
Mark Harwood
23 The Netherlands 255
Peter JG van Keulen
24 Poland 263
Witold Michalek
25 Portugal 271
Joaquim Martins-Lampreia
26 Romania 279
Laura Florea and Bogdan Dima
27 Slovakia 293
Patrik Zoltvany
28 Slovenia 299
Danica Fink-Hafner
x CONTENTS
29 Spain 313
María Rosa Rotondo Ruiz and Rafael Rubio Núñez
30 Sweden 325
Anna-Karin Hedlund
31 United Kingdom 333
Conor McGrath
32 Lobbying and Public Affairs in Europe: Some
Comparative Remarks 351
Alberto Bitonti, Phil Harris and Claudia Mariotti
Index 363
