Multilevel ‘venue shopping’: The case of EU’s Renewables Directive

摘要: Lobbying has traditionally been an enterprise of national interest organizations, which chiefly seek to influence actors, especially governments. However, studies find that organizations increasingly also target the European Union (EU). As EU agenda increased in depth and scope, at political levels might be expected align coalitions order legislation. Such strategies potentially increase organizations’ leverage significantly; despite that, lobbying consisting aligned different have scantily studied literature on lobbying. Therefore, first aim article is illustrate a case where coalition highly likely: employed by Germany’s energy industries process leading up EU’s Renewable Energy Directive. These are represented several both level. The second investigation into how Renewables Directive came about, as outcome profound impact power production consumption, future prospects for EUs mitigation greenhouse gases. Large controversy was connected legal proscriptions support mechanisms enhancing renewable particular. Two would most severely affected were utilities industry renewables industry, together constituting all producers their affiliates Europe. disagreed deeply core issues, such legislation expanding EU. favored EU-wide green certificate scheme, whereas pressed choice mechanisms. Because stakes high, had large incentives invest substantial resources this third discuss what multilevel reveals about perceptions real decision-making located policy strong domain, makes governance theory liberal intergovernmentalism (LI) relevant use. its (MLG) describe perceive when formulated.The results indicate targeted toward German government, played key role negotiations, observations behavior still better described MLG than LI; limited LI illustrated three points. First, lobbied institutions levels. Second, participated informal broad church regards By coordinating positions, pooling developing common strategies, probably substantially, not least because these backed governments member states members Parliament. Third, EU-level central Summing up, findings suggest should considered inclusion analyses European-level themselves seem see distributed across multiple governance, lobby accordingly. In grasp momentum process, it moreover often assess coordination between complex advocacy coalitions. demonstrating covered, regardless sizes resources, levels, study nuances picture actors participate policymaking. When crucial issues created, small institutions. Finally, one organization cooperated with private companies share tasks enhance strength. cooperation topic research organizations.