Lobbying in the European Union

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Lobbying in the European Union


Table of Content

Identify the main functions of the European Commission        3

Explain why the system of Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) in the Council of Ministers has become more important in the decision-making-process        3

Why and how has the role of the European Parliament become more significant in the decision-making-process        4

To what extent will changes to decision making procedures outline in the Lisbon Treaty (2007) improve the legislation process within the EU        5

In what ways do lobbying groups contribute to the policy process in the EU and why are they significant for business        6

Reference List…………………………………        8                

Bibliography        10


Identify the main functions of the European Commission

The European Commission has four main rules:

  1. Proposing new legislations to the Parliament and the Court. It is important that these proposals are aimed to defend the interest of the Union and its citizens, and not only for specific countries or industries.
  2. It is responsible for supervising the budget under the watchful eye of the Court. It also has to manage the policies which are adopted by the Parliament and Council.
  3. They have to make sure that the law in every European country is properly applied.
  4. Representing the EU on the international stage. It makes sure that the member states can speak with one voice (Europa.eu, 2009).

Explain why the system of Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) in the Council of Ministers has become more important in the decision-making process

        

Assuming a measure is opposed by Britain, Italy and Ireland, which together wield 23 votes, these have more power than smaller countries. Since a blocking majority consists of 26 votes, the power of Denmark or Finland (each with three votes) to determine the Council’s decision on the measure becomes infinitely greater than Luxembourg’s (with only two votes). A small country can exert enormous leverage on its larger colleagues when it can use its votes to transform an existing coalition into a qualified majority or blocking majority (Peterson and Bomberg, 1999, p.51-52).

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 Why and how has the role of the European Parliament become more significant in the decision-making process

The European Parliament works aside the Council of Ministers to make decisions, therefore Parliament amendments are now influenced by the European Parliament in the decision-making process. It is more involved under two procedures, co-decision and cooperation with the Council of Ministers. This procedure was introduced by the EC Treaty of Maastricht and was largely expanded by the Amsterdam and Nice alteration of the TEC. Now the procedure is applied to practically all important matters (Europedia, 2009).

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