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European integration puts pressure on national interest associations to adapt their organization & strategies to a changing environment. Arguing from an institutionalist perspective, it can be expected that both the pressure for reorganization as well as the difficulties in the process of adaptation vary with the degree to which the national & European political structures diverge. An empirical analysis of French trade associations confirms this hypothesis; French interest organizations have difficulties to adjust their traditional strategies of interest intermediation to the European network system of governance given its etatist orientation. Furthermore, the results allow for a much more differentiated assessment of the French trade associations' capacity to adapt to the new environment than usually stated in the literature. 2 Tables, 2 Figures, 22 References. Adapted from the source document.

Cet article examine l'adaptation des acteurs nationaux privés et publics au système politique de la Communauté européenne en se concentrant plus particulièrement sur le cas de l'intermédiation des intérêts au niveau européen de la part des organisations professionnelles françaises. Compte tenu de la structure à niveaux multiples qui caractérise le processus politique communautaire et la dépendance au sentier institutionnel (path dependency), on peut s'attendre à ce que les associations professionnelles françaises, dont les stratégies d'intermédiation des intérêts sont conformes au modèle étatique de gouvernance, rencontrent des difficultés lorsqu'il faut s'adapter au style politique européen. En effet, les instruments et moyens utilisés avec succès sur le plan national pourraient s'avérer inappropriés au niveau européen, étant données les différences qui existent entre les deux systèmes. En s'appuyant sur des données quantitatives, cet article s'attache à déterminer si une européanisation de l'intermédiation française des intérêts a eu lieu, et sous quelle forme.

AbstractThe internationalisation of economic and political affairs changes the way in which business interests are brought to bear on public policy. This is a global phenomenon but can, in particular, be observed in Europe. The construction of the European Union, the development of the Single Market and the build‐up of the policy institutions to go with it, together change business–government relations profoundly. This paper answers the question of how organised business interests relate to government agencies and political institutions. By using the example of trade associations in the Netherlands and Germany, the paper shows that, despite the internationalisation of public affairs in Europe, the national political level remains strategically important for the representation of business interests. The paper thus argues that changes in European business–government relations are institutionally embedded at both the European and the national level. The implication for future research is that much of the dynamics of economic and political internationalisation materialises within the domestic arrangements of interest politics. Copyright © 2004 Henry Stewart Publications

AbstractThe internationalisation of economic and political affairs changes the way in which business interests are brought to bear on public policy. This is a global phenomenon but can, in particular, be observed in Europe. The construction of the European Union, the development of the Single Market and the build‐up of the policy institutions to go with it, together change business–government relations profoundly. This paper answers the question of how organised business interests relate to government agencies and political institutions. By using the example of trade associations in the Netherlands and Germany, the paper shows that, despite the internationalisation of public affairs in Europe, the national political level remains strategically important for the representation of business interests. The paper thus argues that changes in European business–government relations are institutionally embedded at both the European and the national level. The implication for future research is that much of the dynamics of economic and political internationalisation materialises within the domestic arrangements of interest politics. Copyright © 2004 Henry Stewart Publications

Civil society and democracy in the EU: high expectations under empirical scrutiny /Beate Kohler-Koch --Governing with the European civil society /Beate Kohler-Koch --Involving civil society in EU governance: the consultation regime of the European Commission /Christine Quittkat and Beate Kohler-Koch --Consultation in daily practice: an in-depth analysis /Christine Quittkat --New instruments serving democracy: Do online constitutions benefit civil society? /Christine Quittkat --The balancing act of European civil society: between professionalism and grass roots /Beate Kohler-Koch and Vanessa Buth --Information strategies of organized civil society: does anyone listen? /Christina Altides --Civil society participation: more democracy or pluralization of the European lobby? /Beate Kohler-Koch.

Inhalt; Vorwort: Zivilgesellschaftliche Partizipation in der EU auf dem Prüfstand - Beate Kohler-Koch; 1 Regieren mit der europäischen Zivilgesellschaft - Beate Kohler-Koch; 2 Die vielen Gesichter der europäischen Zivilgesellschaft - Beate Kohler-Koch; 3 Die Öffnung der europäischen Politik fürdie Zivilgesellschaft - das Konsultationsregime der Europäischen Kommission - Christine Quittkat und Beate Kohler-Koch; 4 Die Konsultationspolitik der Kommission in der Praxis: eine Tiefenanalyse - Christine Quittkat