Seminar 3 – Public Politics II and EU Institutions
Part I: Strategy Implementation
Nonmarket strategies must be implemented effectively:
You need access to government office holders: if access cannot be obtained, an
informational strategy is unlikely to be effective.
Similarly, if you have access but your information is politically relevant or credible,
an informational strategy is unlikely to be effective.
Strategy formulation and implementation are intertwined.
Lobbying
Lobbying is the strategic communication of politically relevant information to government
officeholders.
Firms and other interests spend much more resources on lobbying than on any other strategy.
Lobbying provides two types of information:
o Technical information: it consists of data and predictions about the consequences of
alternative policies.
o Political information about the impact of an alternative on the constituents or policy
interests of an officeholder.
Lobbying in the EU:
To get passes for the EP, companies need to register and declare how much they spend
on lobbying, how many lobbyists are working for the company, how many meetings
they have with the EP or EC, and other information. If they are transparent, they get a
pass.
You don’t lobby the Council directly you lobby the MS’ permanent representations.
Multilevel lobbying
How do you lobby and who do you lobby? In terms of multilevel lobbying:
o the CEO will not talk to the staff of the officeholder but with the officeholder
themselves. Moreover, the CEO will not provide technical information about an issue
because the politician is interested in politically valuable information.
, o The Manager will provide both technical and political information to the staff.
Everyone lobbies at the same level. It is important not only to provide information but also to
listen to what the other side has to say
Principles of effective lobbying
1. Know the institutional arenas in which the issue is addressed.
2. Look for alignments of interests and explore opportunities to build coalitions.
3. Time lobbying to the stages of the institutional decision-making process.
a. When to lobby the EC or the Council?
4. Target key officeholders: know their interests and frame your messages accordingly.
5. Respect the officeholders and staff.
6. Make straightforward presentations: officeholders are busy.
7. Educate and listen to them carefully.
8. Establish access and maintain continuing relationships for the future don’t wait
until there is a crisis, then it may be too late.
Access
Former officeholders are frequently useful in providing contacts and a significant part
of former politicians are now lobbyists.
Use well-established political consulting firms offices in Washington DC or
Brussels.
Part I: Strategy Implementation
Nonmarket strategies must be implemented effectively:
You need access to government office holders: if access cannot be obtained, an
informational strategy is unlikely to be effective.
Similarly, if you have access but your information is politically relevant or credible,
an informational strategy is unlikely to be effective.
Strategy formulation and implementation are intertwined.
Lobbying
Lobbying is the strategic communication of politically relevant information to government
officeholders.
Firms and other interests spend much more resources on lobbying than on any other strategy.
Lobbying provides two types of information:
o Technical information: it consists of data and predictions about the consequences of
alternative policies.
o Political information about the impact of an alternative on the constituents or policy
interests of an officeholder.
Lobbying in the EU:
To get passes for the EP, companies need to register and declare how much they spend
on lobbying, how many lobbyists are working for the company, how many meetings
they have with the EP or EC, and other information. If they are transparent, they get a
pass.
You don’t lobby the Council directly you lobby the MS’ permanent representations.
Multilevel lobbying
How do you lobby and who do you lobby? In terms of multilevel lobbying:
o the CEO will not talk to the staff of the officeholder but with the officeholder
themselves. Moreover, the CEO will not provide technical information about an issue
because the politician is interested in politically valuable information.
, o The Manager will provide both technical and political information to the staff.
Everyone lobbies at the same level. It is important not only to provide information but also to
listen to what the other side has to say
Principles of effective lobbying
1. Know the institutional arenas in which the issue is addressed.
2. Look for alignments of interests and explore opportunities to build coalitions.
3. Time lobbying to the stages of the institutional decision-making process.
a. When to lobby the EC or the Council?
4. Target key officeholders: know their interests and frame your messages accordingly.
5. Respect the officeholders and staff.
6. Make straightforward presentations: officeholders are busy.
7. Educate and listen to them carefully.
8. Establish access and maintain continuing relationships for the future don’t wait
until there is a crisis, then it may be too late.
Access
Former officeholders are frequently useful in providing contacts and a significant part
of former politicians are now lobbyists.
Use well-established political consulting firms offices in Washington DC or
Brussels.
