Interest representation at the European Union level: the case of Lithuanian environmental interest groups
2012
Mazylyte, L., University College London (United Kingdom) | Povilaitis, R., Lithuanian Univ. of Agriculture, Akademija, Kauno reg. (Lithuania)
An increased number of competences transferred from the national to the European level and a high number of the European Union regulations and directives allow expected changes in traditional patterns of interest representation. Since the 1990s, one can observe increased attempts by business as well as public interest groups to influence decisions at the supranational level. However, not all the interest groups are willing to europeanize, e.g. transfer their activities from the national to the European level. Factors such as organizational arrangements, resources, goals as well as national institutional context may determine their activities’ changes. This article examines the case of Lithuanian environmental interest groups and their level of Europeanization. Considering the comparatively short EU membership and rather weak tradition of interest representation, the analysis of environmental interest group activities shows to what extent the EU factor shapes and transforms activities and strategies of non-profit interests. The research combines qualitative data from the interviews with the stakeholders as well as quantitative data of interest groups’ organizational resources.
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