Energy Lobbying in the Decision-Making Process of the European Union

Abstract

Lobbying is part of social life and constitutes an informal path of influencing politics at the national and international levels. The EU is a prime example of an organisation wherein Member States act as lobbyists trying to influence EU policy. The energy transformation that has begun is a process that is particularly dependent on the shaping of climate and energy policy at the European Union level should one compare it to previous socio-technical transformations, with interest advocacy playing an important role in this process. This article aims at examining and explaining the activities and influence of Germany’s lobbying on the shaping of energy policy in the European Union (EU). The subject of the research is Germany’s lobbying strategy based on the Europeanisation of the country’s energy transition (in German, Energiewende). The research shows that lobbying activities have had the intended effect of Europeanising Germany’s Energiewende, which has allowed for increased innovation in technology and as well as increased production of products from the broader environmental sector. Furthermore, these activities have created new jobs in the sector, which has kick-started and strengthened the German economy. In conclusion, the more resources a Member State has and the longer it has been a member of the EU, the better the conditions are for effective lobbying.