Assessing interest groups’ influence on EU climate policy: the case of the 2030 climate target policy

Abstract

The presence of interest groups (IGs) lobbying EU institutions has grown significantly in recent years. This surge is related to the increasing competences that the EU has been granted in several policy areas. From the consolidation of the single market to the coordination of social, environmental, or health policies, the diversity of interests represented in the EU policy-making process has blossomed. In the middle of this phenomenon, the threat triggered by climate change has made the EU climate policy more relevant than ever. The presentation of the European Green Deal (EGD) in 2019 marks a milestone in the commitment of the EU with addressing this threat while pursuing climate neutrality by 2050. One of the policies that compound the EGD is the 2030 Climate Target Plan (2030 CTP). Its main objective is to reduce GHG emissions by 55% by 2030, in relation to 1990’s levels. The plan demands a stronger pledge of EU companies and citizens with climate-related measures in order to achieve the expected goal. Consequently, this policy has got the attention of different actors aiming to influence its final design. Among them, business and environmental IGs are the most salient as they represent private and public interests in the policy debate. Accordingly, this thesis aims to assess whether business or environmental IGs were more influential in the 2030 CTP’s policy communication issued by the Commission. Relying on content analysis as a research technique, the IGs’ position papers are compared with the policy communication to find similarities in their texts. To illuminate the performance of these actors is crucial since the importance of the EU climate policies is set to endure.