A master programme thesis from Aalborg University
Europeanization in Practice: The Role of Interest Groups in Shaping the CAP reform 2023-2027
Author(s)
Term
4. semester
Education
Publication year
2025
Submitted on
2025-06-10
Abstract
The framework of Europeanization covers much on how the Common Agricultural Policy reform 2023-2027 has been influenced by EU institutions, Member States and interest groups. Especially with the introduction of the Common Agricultural Policy from the beginning of establishing the EU as explained by Giuliani and Baron (2023, 4), and therefore, have been an important sector for businesses to perceive their preferences and interests. Here, it is normally used to analyze and explain the two perspectives ‘top-down’ and ‘bottom-up’ as explained by Börzel and Panke (2022, 113) and Börzel and Risse (2003, 58). However, this project focuses on the framework of Europeanization and interest groups and investigate into the insider strategy and outsider strategy as explained in Dür and Mateo (2016, 16). This study serves as an investigation into interest groups involvement in formulation and implementation of the CAP reform 2023-2027 by using tactics based on the framework Europeanization and interest groups. I collected a prospective amount of news articles and academic articles and used methods such as single-case study, process tracing and document analysis to document the change and development of the CAP reform 2023-2027 on the single case of agricultural interest groups attempt influencing on a domestic level and European level. As mentioned in the articles by Herman (2021) and Aagaard, Ekeberg and Abildlund (2023), Copa-Cogeca and Landbrug & Fødevarer has participated in multiple expert groups and meetings with decision makers. These articles take upon how the interest groups such as Copa-Cogeca and Landbrug & Fødevarer have used their contact with the institutions to attempt at influencing the formulation and implementation of CAP reform 2023-2027. It aims to explore the outcome of the different tactics used by Copa-Cogeca and Landbrug & Fødevarer against the Common Agricultural Policy and the European Green Deal. Thus, this project seeks to provide a conclusion on how Copa-Cogeca and Landbrug & Fødevarer have used mostly one kind of strategy to influence the agricultural context. When assessing this, findings indicate that Copa-Cogeca and Landbrug & Fødevarer mostly make use of the insider strategy to attempt to influence. Furthermore, these findings showcase that even though sitting on expert groups, councils and foundations do not signify that interest groups have influence without other types of indicators portraying the same preferences. This project therefore results in providing an analytical framework of Europeanization in relation to the daily decision-making process in interest groups and the CAP reform 2023-2027.
Keywords
Documents
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