Lobbying in der Europäischen Union

Do civil society interest organisations or business interest organisations participate more in EU climate and banking policy? To answer this question, the author of this study looks at pre-legislative lobbying, analysing both online consultations and direct meetings with interest organisations in an observation period from 2010–2018. The results in both policy areas reveal a clear structural imbalance in favour of business interest organisations. Therefore, the work not only refutes the prevailing view that the EU is a pluralistic interest organisation system, but also questions the democratic function of interest representation in the EU in general.