Lobbying the EU Institutions in a Pluralistic Environment: An Analysis of the Public Affairs activities in Brussels based on Interviews with Stakeholders, Decision-makers and Officials at the Institutions
Author
Fast, Anna Yvonne
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2016
Submitted on
2016-05-31
Pages
68
Abstract
This master’s thesis examines how stakeholders lobby the EU institutions in Brussels within a pluralistic environment characterized by intense competition and unequal resources. It focuses on whether animal-welfare NGOs experience lobbying differently from other actors—such as environmental groups, agriculture, city networks, and cooperative interests—and, if so, why. The study employs a qualitative design based on interviews with experienced lobbyists (including seven from animal welfare plus stakeholders from environment, agriculture, cities and cooperatives) and with decision-makers and officials (two MEPs, a DG Agriculture policy officer, and a Swedish Permanent Representative). The analysis covers approximately 2006–2016 to contrast the agendas of the Barroso and Juncker Commissions and is framed by theories of pluralism and corporatism alongside scholarship on interest representation. To contextualize stakeholder influence, it outlines key policy areas in animal welfare, environment, and the Common Agricultural Policy, while a separate attempt to quantify “success rates” was set aside. An analysis model organizes interview data around who is lobbied and how, obstacles and main difficulties, and—from the institutions’ perspective—which stakeholders are met, their approaches, equality of access, and perceived influence. The aim is to illuminate access, strategies, and constraints in the EU’s pluralist system and to inform recommendations for animal-welfare advocates and other stakeholders. (Note: Findings and conclusions are presented in later chapters and are not included in this excerpt.)
Denne specialeopgave undersøger, hvordan interessenter lobbyer EU-institutionerne i Bruxelles i et pluralistisk miljø præget af høj konkurrence og ulighed i ressourcer. Udgangspunktet er spørgsmålet, om dyrevelfærds-NGO’er oplever lobbyarbejde anderledes end andre aktører – som miljøorganisationer, landbruget, byernes samarbejder og kooperative interesser – og i givet fald hvorfor. Undersøgelsen er kvalitativ og bygger på interviews med erfarne lobbyister (bl.a. syv fra dyrevelfærd samt aktører fra miljø, landbrug, byer og kooperativer) og med beslutningstagere og embedsmænd (to MEP’er, en policy officer i GD Landbrug og en svensk fast repræsentant). Analysen dækker perioden ca. 2006–2016 for at kunne sammenholde Barroso- og Juncker-Kommissionernes forskellige dagsordener, og den sættes ind i en teoretisk ramme af pluralisme og korporatisme samt litteratur om interessevaretagelse. For at kontekstualisere interessenternes arbejde skitseres centrale politikområder inden for dyrevelfærd, miljø og den fælles landbrugspolitik, mens et særskilt målforsøg på at måle ”success rate” er fravalgt. En analysemodel grupperer interviewdata i temaer om, hvem og hvordan der lobbyes, barrierer og hovedvanskeligheder, samt – fra institutionernes side – hvilke interessenter der mødes, hvilke tilgange de bruger, lighed i adgang og oplevet indflydelse. Formålet er at belyse adgangsforhold, strategier og forhindringer i EU’s pluralistiske system og danne grundlag for anbefalinger til dyrevelfærdsaktører såvel som andre interessenter. (Bemærk: Resultater og konklusioner præsenteres i senere kapitler og fremgår ikke af dette uddrag.)
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