This paper addresses the question of how a small member state, Finland, can influence EU legislative decision-making. Law-making in the EU can hardly be conceived as rational planning. All during the legislative procedure conflicting interests are being negotiated and reconciled; a fact the paper takes full account of. The paper presents two case studies of EU legislative negotiations. These are the Consumer Credit Directive (2008/48/EC) and the Telecoms Package (Regulation 2009/1211/EC, Directive 2009/136/EC and Directive 2009/140/EC). In both cases Finnish Government officials were successful, in particular in the Council working group where a considerable amount of texts are already agreed. The Finnish delegates were proficient policy and legal experts, skilful negotiators and active coalition-builders. Furthermore, in the Telecoms Package Finland was also able to advance its national position by working in close co-operation with Finnish MEPs, especially during the 1st reading.
