The Evolving Nature of EU Business Lobbying

This chapter examines business lobbying in the EU from a historical perspective. Conceptually, it discusses how the EU’s evolution has influenced interest intermediation in Brussels. In doing so, it addresses the increasing authority handed to the European Commission, the growth of European regulatory networks, and multi-level governance; and their influence on business and the strategic choices it makes. From the opposite perspective, it examines the impact that business has had on the EU’s integration, and its policy-making procedures. Empirically, the chapter draws on unique business surveys spanning from the mid-1990s up until today, and a large-N analysis of 12,000 registered organizations on the EU’s transparency register. It also provides a case study on business strategies, focused on the directive on tobacco control. Theoretically, this chapter contributes to discussions on European integration, interest group activity, business lobbying, and governance in the EU.,

Making Sense of the Complexity of Business-Government Relations in the EU

In this chapter, we develop a political theory of the firm that draws from a micro-, meso-, and macro-perspective. In doing so, we develop a theory that brings together a set of pieces that form a sum greater than its parts. Specifically, it looks at how the structure and functions of institutions affect how the firm behaves in the political arena. It goes on to look at the variation in business behaviour across policy areas and stages of the policy cycles and it concludes with the focus on the internal features of the company. The chapter concludes by providing some recommendations for scholars of business and politics, policy-makers, and lobbyists.

Revolving Doors or Sliding Doors in Brussels? Lobbying Strategies and Capabilities

In this chapter, we explore the micro-level and concentrates on business and its government affairs offices in Brussels. We assess business strategic choices in hiring different types of staff, and its variation across national and corporate lines. While business has overall similar tools to lobby the EU, it employs distinctly different approaches. We look at the educational and professional background of its staff, and the role it plays in its lobbying strategies. In doing so, we reveal substantial variation across firms’ strategic approaches and the central driving factors motivating the observed variance. Moreover, we underscore common approaches as a reaction to the EU’s evolution. Theoretically, the chapter builds on the firm’s micro-capabilities.

The Nature of the Policy Field and Business-Government Relations

This chapter studies the nature of the policy field and its impact on business-lobbying in the EU. Drawing from theories on institutional legitimacy and information-access it observes the variation in density and diversity across regulatory and (re)distributive policy fields, and committee hearings. Empirically, the chapter employs business group surveys, conducts meticulous analysis of a population of 12,000 interest groups lobbying preferences across multiple policy fields assessing their density and diversity as well as their clustering. It includes a case study on business diverse coalition building focusing on net neutrality. Finally, the chapter observes the distribution of business interests across the European Parliament’s committee hearings. In doing so, this chapter contributes to discussions on legitimacy and public policy, chameleon pluralism, business mobilization, and the nature of the policy good.

Agenda-Setting and Business-Government Relations across the EU’s Policy-Making Cycle

This chapter examines the policy cycle’s role in agenda-setting and business mobilization. The chapter draws from theories on agenda-setting and deliberative theory. It discusses agenda-setting procedures in the EU’s context and their impact on business mobilization. Conversely, it addresses business strategies to influence the EU’s agenda, and policy outcomes across the policy-making process. Empirically, it employs extensive surveys of business and policy-makers. The chapter also includes a case study on business strategies across the policy cycle focusing on the car emissions scandal (Diesel-gate). Finally, the chapter provide a rare and systematic glimpse into members of the European Parliament’s perceptions of business lobbying across the policy cycle. In doing so, it contributes to discussions on influence, insiders/outsiders, consultations, business lobbying coalitions, and deliberation in policy-making.

Institutions and Business Strategies

This chapter focuses on business’ relationship with the EU’s institutions, in particular the European Commission and the European Parliament. From a theoretical perspective, the chapter discusses the role of legitimacy and information-expertise as central resources defining business access. It then examines the growing role of political parties, and the rise of political financing as an alternative lobbying resource. Empirically, the chapter draws from a large-N analysis of a population of 12,000 lobbyists, business, and policy-maker surveys, and an analysis EU-level political parties’ budgets. The chapter also includes a case study on the use of information and business strategies across institutional settings focusing on the European Emissions Trading Scheme. The chapter’s analyses shows how business interests mobilize in similar proportions across institutions. Interestingly, when lobbying members of the European Parliament they address parties across the ideological spectrum. Simultaneously, business donations to EU-level parties are increasing over time, with centre-right and Eurosceptic parties outperforming centre-left and left wing parties. In doing so this chapter contributes to discussions about, information-access, input/output legitimacy, political financing, and business lobbying politicization.

Business-Government Relations in the EU

This monograph charts and assesses business lobbying in Brussels, taking into consideration its nuances. Indeed, a number of disciplines, theories, and methodological approaches grapple with this subject. The EU is one of the largest trading blocs and lobbying environments in the world. It is also a unique socio-political arena, in constant flux over the last fifty years. Business has not been idle; expanding its reach outside of the national domain, since the 1970s it has developed a spectacular advocacy toolbox, particularly in Europe and the US. Government affairs offices in Brussels today hardly resemble those forty years ago in quality or quantity. The relationship, is multi-layered, multi-level, multi-actor, and cuts across a series of institutional, thematic, legal, social, and governmental networks. With this in mind, this monograph draws on two different disciplines that act as a theoretical prism: political science, and business and management studies. The former helps make sense of the demand side of the equation, the role of government in shaping business activity. The latter provides the supply side, the company’s inner workings and its strategic choice to mobilize and lobby the EU. We employ three analytic perspectives: (i) macro; (ii) meso; (iii) micro. Bringing together different perspectives to business-government affairs in the EU, we aim to provide a rounded theoretical understanding of the relationship, a rich set of conceptual tools for its examination, and a detailed empirical mapping.