Lobbying and Interest Group Influence in EU Foreign Policy

Abstract

The chapter delves into the case of lobbying and influence in EU foreign policy, an area still subdued to intergovernmental decision-making arrangements with little involvement of the supranational institutions. It addresses the questions what strategies interest groups use and what influence they achieve in EU foreign policy. By drawing on rich data collected through interviews with interest groups representatives and policymakers in Brussels, EU member states and neighboring countries on three policy dossiers, the chapter shows that lobbying strategies in EU foreign policy do not radically differ from those adopted by advocates in EU domestic policies, yet they reflect the distinct institutional character of EU foreign policymaking. Whereas EU foreign policy is not immune to interest group influence, the institutional context combined with factors endogenous to groups’ self-organization mediates the degree to which advocates achieve their advocacy goals. The findings show that successful advocates have learned to adapt to the unfavorable institutional context and complex decision-making by defining ‘realistic’ advocacy objectives, building transnational lobbying alliances and building up informal channels of access.

This chapter is based on the author’s PhD thesis ‘Advocacy and Interest Group Influence in EU Foreign Policy’ defended at the University of Warwick in November 2015.