The increasing importance of EU institutions over the past few decades has meant that Brussels has become the second largest centre of lobbying globally, after Washington DC. There are currently an estimated 15,000 lobbyists and 2,500 lobbyist organisations in Brussels. The relatively distant and technocratic nature of EU governance means that lobbyists play an important role in representing the EU population via interest groups, including industry groups, NGOs, trade unions and think tanks. Lobbyists provide valuable expertise and representation of interests that might otherwise be ignored at a European level. Lobbyists in Brussels lobby the Commission primarily, as well as the Parliament and to a lesser extent, government ministers.
Lobbyist either work as in-house lobbyists or as contract lobbyists. In-house lobbyists will work solely for one company or organisation and are best thought of as ‘activists’, working for a single interest. By contrast, contract lobbyists are employed by lobbying or public relations firms to lobby on behalf of various causes and interests, and very often specialise in a particular area (such as information technology)
This year at MEU, participants will take the role of contract lobbyists, lobbying on both proposals being discussed during the simulation. Due to the short nature of the simulation, lobbyist participants are given far more access than would occur in real life. In particular, lobbyist participants are able to sit in on the sessions of the Parliament, though, as in real life, the Council is far harder to access. Lobbyists may communicate through official and unofficial meetings with the Council and the Parliament, as well as through the media and during social occasions (such as coffee breaks). As a lobbyist at MEU, your job is to provide MEPs and Ministers with expertise and advice, all while trying to convince them to amend legislation and vote in a way that benefits the interests you represent.
