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Pressure groups and the EU
Intro
A pressure group can be described as an organised group which does not put up candidates for election, but seeks to influence government legislation. Like many aspects of politics in Britain, the role of pressure groups has changed since Britain joined the EU. Pressure groups go where the power lies. As more and more power is shifting towards Brussels, pressure groups have begun to place increasing emphasis on lobbying EU decision makers. This can be seen to be the case with the Single European Act (SEA) introduced in 1886 which brought in major changes, one of which changing the voting procedure in the council of ministers to QMV, thus encouraging greater pressure group activity in the EU
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This essay will look at how different pressure groups are affected by membership of the EU in different ways as well as assessing their point of access into the EU.
Some pressure groups who are outsiders in Britain may find themselves being very much insiders in the EU. For example, groups such as Friends of the Earth and Green Peace. Trade Unions also became insiders in the EU during the Thatcher era and were consulted regularly by the Commission and Parliament. Some groups who are insiders in Britain may find it more difficult to influence decisions in the EU. This is because there is usually a different political agenda. On the other hand, there are many groups who may find themselves being both insiders and outsiders in Britain and the EU. For example, farmers who find that they are insiders on both spheres. Extreme environmental groups however are always outsiders.
Most pressure groups attempt to target the EU in order to achieve their objectives. Pressure need to discover where the power lies. Although the council of ministers is the ultimate EU decision making body, much of the power actually lies with the commission. It is the commission which draws out proposals for the council of ministers as well as implementing legislation. As a result, the commission is most targeted by pressure groups in Brussels.
Sectional groups are not greatly influenced by the EU. They usually represent the interest or cause of the group and therefore, would only take some of their operations to Europe. Promotional groups tend to use more direct action such as demonstrations and media campaigns. However, it is more expensive to mount campaigns in Europe and in this respect may find it more difficult to influence EU legislation.
Many pressure groups may choose to form federations within the EU such as ‘Euro-groups’ They are most common amongst sectional groups although some cause groups have also been organised into federations. For example, the Federation of European cyclists. These groups are usually most favoured by the EU as it is recognised the Commission as representing European –wide interests. Some pressure groups have even found that their interest now lie firmly in Europe. This can be seen with such groups as fisheries (CFP) agriculture (CAP) and the trade unions who would be concerned about the social chapter. In Europe they would be very active in the Commission as well as COREPER which consider policy. In recent years, the Maastricht Treaty introduced key co-decision making powers for the European Parliament, in which pressure groups recognise and will find important.
Due the Single European Act (SEA) the voting procedure has changed in the council of ministers. Previously, a single member state could veto a proposal however, since the introduction of SEA QMV is now used on some matters in the council of ministers. This means that pressure groups can no longer rely on member states to veto legislation they do not like. The groups must therefore, lobby other governments and the Commission.
Comments
These notes are aimed at people studying for Edexcel A Level Government and Politics, unit 6A.
Originally submitted by Celladore on TSR Forums.
