Influencing the European Union through lobbying: An emphasis on the European Parliament and a case study of ECON

Lobbying within the EU is a welcome and frequently used way of constructing the policy process. The aim of this thesis is through a text analysis describe and understand the influence that interest groups have on especially the European Parliament but also the Commission. My objects of study are the three institutions of the European Union with an emphasis on the European Parliament. I use network theory to identify the complexity of the policy process and the cooperation with interest groups. Furthermore I have made interviews of policy specialists working in the European Parliament committees and put my focus on the committee of Economic and Monetary Affairs and also based my case on that committee. This is all analyzed accordingly with the method where I find, in line with the network theory, that proactive lobbying, contacts, shared interests all make a crucial basis in influencing the policy process. Beyond this I have identified that shared political visions and shared goals between MPs and lobbyists are essential in driving their interests forward in the policy process