Interest groups

Abstract

Environmental policy is now one of the largest and most mature areas of EU activity, and over the last 50 years, it has become a site of signifcant lobbying. Business interests are especially active, being both exposed to but also active infuencers of the policy process. Environmental NGOs also fock to Brussels to fnd new opportunities for political infuence. However, academic research is divided on the infuence enjoyed by interest groups in the EU's multilevel policy-making system. In general, interest groups representing key business sectors are able to use their economic clout to exert pressure directly on decision-makers. Most Brussels-based environmental NGOs have signifcantly expanded their lobbying activities and increased their policy expertise. They seem to be more effective on issues with high public salience.