Lobbying in the European Union: Comparison of interest groups from Slovenia and Croatia

Magistrsko delo predstavlja študijo in analizo razvoja in delovanja interesnih skupin iz Slovenije in Hrvaške na primeru lobiranja v evropski politiki. Po uvodni opredelitvi osnovnih pojmov v magistrskem delu analiziram in definiram interesne skupine ter lobije, načela uspešnega lobiranja, tarče in pristope lobiranja ter strategije lobiranja v posameznih institucijah Evropske unije. V nadaljevanju se osredotočim na regulacijo lobiranja in odnos do lobiranja, ki ima pogosto negativen prizvok. V empiričnem delu naloge naštejem in analiziram tipe interesnih skupin iz Slovenije in Hrvaške. Namen analize in primerjave interesnih skupin iz teh dveh držav članic Evropske unije je ugotoviti, ali je katera izmed njiju bolj oz. manj aktivna pri zastopanju svojih interesov v Evropski uniji in če, katere interese določena država zastopa bolj aktivno. Po pregledu, analizi interesnih skupin in opravljenem družboslovnem intervjuju z dr. Borisom Cizljem ugotovim, da interesne skupine iz Slovenije in Hrvaške delujejo podobno ter da se interesne skupine iz obeh držav trudijo za uveljavitev podobnih interesov. V zaključku magistrskega dela strnem spoznanja in ugotovitve ter potrdim tezo in hipotezo.Master\u27s Thesis presents a study and analysis of the development and operation of interest groups from Slovenia and Croatia in European Union policymaking. After the introductory definition of the basic concepts in the master\u27s thesis, I analyzed and defined interest groups and lobbies, the principles of successful lobbying, targets, and approaches to lobbying as well as lobbying strategies in individual European Union institutions. In the next chapters of my master\u27s thesis, I focused on the regulation of lobbying and the perception of the concept of “lobbying” since it often has negative connotation. In the empirical part of the thesis, I listed and analyzed the types of interest groups from Slovenia and Croatia. The purpose of analysis and comparison of interest groups from these two European Union countries was to determine whether one country is more active in representing their interests in the European Union and, if so, which interests a particular country represents more actively. After the review and analysis of interest groups, and conducted interview with dr. Boris Cizelj, I concluded that interest groups from Slovenia and Croatia are acting similarly, and that interest groups from both countries are trying to promote similar interests. At the end of the master\u27s thesis, I summarized the findings and cognitions, as well as confirmed my thesis and hypothesis