Lobbying in the European Union

The European bursting charge has four main rules1. Proposing new lawmakings to the parliament and the Court. It is main(prenominal) that these proposals are aimed to defend the liaison of the Union and its citizens, and not only for limited countries or industries.2. It is responsible for supervising the reckon under the watchful eye of the Court. It in like manner has to manage the policies which are adopted by the sevens and Council.3. They lay down to nark legitimate that the law in every European country is properly apply.4. Representing the EU on the international stage. It makes sure that the member states burn down speak with 1ness voice (Europa.eu, 2009). beg off why the system of Qualified absolute majority Voting (QMV) in the Council of Ministers has become more than than all-important(prenominal) in the conclusiveness- do carry through with(predicate)presumptuous a measure is opposed by Britain, Italy and Ireland, which together wield 23 votes, the se harbour more creator than lower-rankinger countries. Since a block off majority consists of 26 votes, the power of Denmark or Finland ( severally with three votes) to determine the Councils last on the measure becomes infinitely great than Luxembourgs (with only ii votes). A small country cigarette exert wonderful leverage on its larger colleagues when it can use its votes to transform an make uping densification into a answer majority or blocking majority (Peterson and Bomberg, 1999, p.51-52).Why and how has the federal agency of the European Parliament become more significant in the decision-making fermentThe European Parliament works aside the Council of Ministers to make decisions, in that respectfore Parliament amendments are immediately influenced by the European Parliament in the decision-making process. It is more involved under two parts, co-decision and co work with the Council of Ministers. This consumption was introduced by the EC treaty of Maastr icht and was largely expanded by the capital of The Netherlands and Nice alteration of the TEC. Now the surgical procedure is applied to practically all important matters (Europedia, 2009).With the cooperation procedure, introduced in the SEA, the Council becomes more influenced. If the EP has different opinions to what the Council proposes in a specific legislation, further word of honor and modifications can be under take upn. Today this procedure allow only be applied in limited areas of economic and monetary unions. Under the co-decision procedure now pearl the vast majority of EU legislations that were introduced by the Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice Treaties. In this procedure the EP has more power to veto against or so decisions from the Council. If they can not agree with each other, the legislation leave behinding fail to exist (Bomberg E. and Stubb A., 2005, p. 59).To what extent will changes to decision making procedures outline in the Lisbon accord (2007) improv e the legislation process in spite of appearance the EUFirstly, it generalises the qualified majority right to vote in a normal legislative process. Secondly, the weight of the votes will change in the Council and significantly simplify the system of qualified majority. From the 1st of November 2014, the qualified majority has to be at least 55 % of the members of the Council, including a minimum of fifteen of them and representing fellow member States involving a minimum of 65 % of the inhabitants of the Union. A blocking majority must(prenominal) take away a minimum of four Council members, and the qualified majority will be reached. The new balloting system values the fairness of portion States as each one has one vote in respect of the scratch line decisive factor and the second criteria is the existence size of a country. The third criteria which must be noted is that 15 atom States in support of the proposal is gratuitous(Europedia, 2009).Current decisions about ro aming fees and the services leading demonstrate how the European Parliaments membership guides take decisions, which are in the interest of the European citizens. Henceforward, the European Parliament will have the same power as the Council of Ministers in many areas. Regarding the agricultural policy, the Parliament will be able to contribute to it. The EP will therefore take part in all aspects of the EU budget. The national Parliament will play a role prior to the acceptance of EU legislation and will be adept to ram the Commission to modify draft EU-legislations. It will be a milestone to bringing the EU nearer to its citizens (TheEuros, 2007).In what slipway do lobbying groups contribute to the policy process in the EU and why are they significant for businessIn 2008, there were 15,000 lobbyists and 2,500 lobbying organisations in Brussels. In the EU, the Lobbyist usually drops into one of three major groups industry associations, regional representations and non-government al organisations / interest groups. Interest groups and industry associations revolve about on influencing decision-making processes for the benefit of their members, while also gathering and disseminating useful information. In distinction, regional lobby groups stand for regional and topical anesthetic authorities within EU member States, they do not focus on direct lobbying, but on networking, making known and marketing their regions all the way through the EU machinery (Stevenson, 2008, p.1).One of the most important issues in front of interests groups is the hanging counterpoise of power between European Institutions. effusion of qualified majority voting in the Council take the veto power from Member States in some economic areas, the co-decision process gave the European Parliament a large role in decision-making and the power to disdain legislation that the Council favours. Interest groups style alliances in order to give the issue a true European dimension and pers pective. The EU today manages important policies such as the Common Agriculture Policy, telecommunication, the negotiation in the World Trade Organisation, food safety, human race health and transport. Business groups account for about two-thirds of all Eurogroups (Lehmann, 2003, p.5-21).Lobbying is significant for the business, because the firms can influence on the governments decisions.Levi Strauss & Co. for example, relies on Guatemala for materials such as textiles. In 2001, the U.S. government denied Guatemala duty-free berth for its imports due to the Latin America governments decision to adequately implement labor laws. This would have increased Levi Strausss costs, so it had a receptive business interest in dominating, quite than lobby the U.S. government to retain Guatemalas prejudiced trade stance the author writes, Levis convey to attack the cause of the problem the Guatemalas neediness of labour laws. The resoluteness Guatemala put into operation stronger labor laws as a result it continues to have protected trade status with the United States (Is Lobbying for Good CSRs Missing Link?, 2009).