Lobbying in Brussels

Question 1

Brussels Bubble

Answer 1

“Everyone knowns everyone.”

-> lunch is very important - it takes place at 1pm for most Commission staff

Question 2

Characteristics of Brussels lobbying

Answer 2

• mainly technical, procedural, expert-based
• also based on political power

Question 3

Number of registered companies

Answer 3

• stable over the last three years
• around 12,000 registered entities

Question 4

Importance of financial institutions lobbies in Brussels

Answer 4

• trying to keep regulatory capital requirements low
• Covid: governments urged banks to continue giving out loans; EU Next Generation Fund needs to be placed on the market
• financial industry lobby has most organisations registered of all other sectors (700+); outnumbers other IGs in the number of encounters with EU institutions
• financial industry lobbyists are often in the majority in expert groups

Question 5

Levels of lobbying activities

Answer 5

Often lobbying activities take place through:

• EU and international industry federations
• national industry federation
• lobby consultancy