AWARENESS RAISING ABOUT THE VALUE OF INTEREST REPRESENTATION IN THE EU

Interest groups and interest representatives play an important role within the European Union. Yet, the basic definition of an interest group - a group of individuals organized to seek public policy influence, usually though not exclusively by attempting to influence government actors - masks an enormous amount of diversity among interests and interest groups.

The European Union encourages the representation of competing interests because they  balance each other by bringing resources and arguments to bear on different sides of important public policy decisions. The European institutions are designed to accommodate the inevitability of diverse and competing interests, as well as the need to prevent any one group, either a numerical majority or minority, from becoming powerful enough to undermine the rights of others. Multiple competing interests create a stable political environment that allows those interests to be represented before the EU.

The pursuit of private interests need not undermine the common welfare. Indeed, just as the pursuit of private economic self-interest benefits the economy as a whole, so also the pursuit of political self-interest is a good thing for the political system overall, even if some specific policy outcomes seem undesirable.

Interest groups shape the opportunities for effective participation by ordinary citizens in the political system.

Interest groups develop considerable expertise on the political issues they seek to influence, and subsequently communicate information and analysis to the public in their efforts to shape both policy and public opinion. While it is expected that interest groups  provide data and interpretations that best support their position on specific issues, it is also expected that competing groups offer countervailing arguments and different viewpoints. These are of course ideal expectations, and if they are even roughly met, they help increase public knowledge about the issue under discussion by exposing citizens to competing views.

We rely on interest groups to provide information about public policy and government decisions. Interest groups and interest representatives have a legitimate right to participate in in the EU decision making process. Despite the fact that the actual conditions of public discussion shaped by interest group competition don't always meet ideal expectations, interest groups nonetheless convey information both to the public and to policy makers. Over time, interest groups develop considerable expertise in the areas to which they are dedicated, and this information is incorporated into the making of policy and law. Interest groups often provide what we might call "interested expertise" - facts and analyses designed to shape opinions in a way that reflects their objectives and interpretations of issues.

Interest representation is a necessary component of the dialogue between citizens and EU  public officials and it is an important and powerful technique for influencing public policy decisions. Interest representation  provides critical channels for European citizens to communicate their political interests to and attempt to influence the EU institutions.  Despite the often negative image of interest groups, thousands of Europeans participate in interest group politics, shaping public policy and the public debate at all levels of the EU  political system. Though well-heeled groups may be more effective at gaining influence than groups with very limited resources all groups who want to press their causes in the EU political system have a range of powerful tools available to them.

Interest groups are able to synthesize or aggregate shared messages thus enhancing citizens’ participation. Effective public participation requires that citizens be informed and knowledgeable about the topic being discussed. Interest groups draw attention on policy directions that are expected to have a major impact on citizens; address issues that involve conflicts in values or require difficult policy choices or tradeoffs; explore emerging issues that require considerable learning, both on the part of the EU and citizens.