Lobbying in the EU

Full course description

The second module of the Master in European Public Affairs deals with interest groups and lobbying in the system of European governance. Students will explore on a conceptual level the characteristics of the EU interest representation system as well as the relationship between EU institutions and lobbying organizations, and will learn to identify the main venues for lobby access and influence in the system. Who wins lobby battles and why? What standards do we use to judge the democratic legitimacy of lobbying?  All  these  questions  and  more  will  be  explored  at  length  in  the  course. Students set-up their own small research project and report their results in a short academic paper.  

In terms of applied professional content, this module equips students with the necessary skills and tools to perform on the Brussels lobbying scene. Through role-playing, students will learn how to formulate lobby plans for specific clients and focusing on an ongoing legislative file. Students will also train their media engagement and communication skills, wiranging from traditional media to social media and digital tools designed specifically for public affairs management. Last but certainly not least, the module covers ethical standards in lobbying and trains students to assess various lobbying practices and behaviours from the standpoint of their ethical acceptability.