Lobbying in Old and New Europe: Understanding Practices and Perceptions in the European Parliament

The increasing power of the European Parliament has attracted interest representatives to more actively pursue their interests within the institution. Consequently, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have also become more significant players in lobbying the European Union. This work focuses on how MEPs from different national lobbying cultures perceive lobbyists and use resources from them in the policymaking process. The case selection of MEPs from Poland and the United Kingdom offers a rich comparison of perceptions from two different lobbying systems. Interview findings confirm that Polish MEPs are more reluctant to work with lobbyists on policy issues because of less familiarity and comfort towards lobbying and a general concern for transparency in the policymaking process.