Italy CORPORATE LOBBYING IN THE EUROPEAN UNION: TOWARDS A THEORY OF ACCESS. 1

ABSTRACT. The aim of this article is to develop a theoretical framework in order to explain the access of business interests to the European Commission, the Parliament and the Council of Ministers. The degree of access to these institutions is explained in terms of a theory of demand and supply of access goods. Access goods concern information that is crucial in the EU policy-making process. In return for access to an EU institution, business interests have to supply one or more access goods. The organizational form of the interest representation determines the capacity to provide access goods. Business associative action is therefore unconventionally studied in relation with two other organizational forms: individual firm action and third party representation. To gain access, the provided access good simultaneously has to be demanded by the EU institution. Together with the supply, the EU institutions' demand for access goods is therefore carefully studied. 1 I would like to thank the participants of the Departmental Seminar at the European Universit

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