Interest representation and lobbying in and by the new Member States of the European Union

Abstract

The vast majority of the new Member States of the European Union had to face serious challenges in the field of interest politics in the past one decade and a half. In the period of the political and economic transition the actors and the rules of the political decision-making arena have been completely changed. The quality of the decision-making in the various public policy fields is increasingly determined by the maturity of the two-way channels of information transmission between interest groups and decision-makers. At the same time, the political science literature of these countries pays growing attention to the channels and methods of interest representation, partly under the influence of the American political science literature, partly because of its own seeking ways and means, and to a certain extent as an outcome of the EU membership. Therefore, interest politics came to the forefront of the political science literature in these countries. However, these countries have found themselves in a completely new situation since 1 May 2004. The EU membership opened up new vistas for them. Nevertheless, the new opportunities have to be realized in a complicated network of competing interests and interest groups, and in a complex decision-making system where many of their competitors is far more experienced. Moreover, interest representation and lobbying on the European level is no longer the responsibility of national institutions and governmental agencies only, but a challenge regions, business associations, trade unions, companies etc. have to face. In this context, knowledge of the political culture of the European Union, the operation of its institutions, its decision-making procedures, as well as proficiency in the channels and methods of interest representation in this institutional jungle is essential. Without such knowledge, new Member States cannot become and remain successful actors in the EU. We expect empirically driven and theoretically informed papers. We welcome studies both focusing on interest politics within new Member States or examining interest representation activities realized by Member States and/or their 'representatives' in the decision-making arena of the European Union. Case studies and comparative studies are also welcomed. Papers from acceding countries or candidate countries of the EU may also be accepted

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