Europe and Civil Society: Movement coalitions and European governance

Abstract

The aim of this book is to examine the consequences of the re-location of advocacy from the national to the supranational level which is currently taking place in several policy areas. It does so by looking at the interaction between campaigners and EU institutions in certain key areas of social activism: environmental policy, anti-racism and regionalism. The re-location of aspects of social activism to the Community level is a complex process with manifold consequences for both the institutional sector and the civil society from which public interest groups arise. Viewed from the multifarious perspectives of different policy areas, evaluation of the reasons for, and the repercussions of, this re-location requires understanding of the consequences of the process of European integration for organised civil society – a complex sector which includes non-governmental organisations, social movements, advocacy groups, charities, representatives of self-help organisations and promotional groups. At member state level, but increasingly at the EU level as well, these diverse organisations are pressing for a greater voice in the policy process, for more resources and for greater visibility. This is a politically controversial phenomenon, for it touches upon such contentious issues as the role of expertise in the policy process, the proper functioning of the state and its relation to majoritarian processes. In recent years, scholars, NGO personnel and EU institutional actors have joined in a debate on what the proper role of the voluntary sector should be, on its financing structure and on its levels of access to the policy process. This book aims to contribute to this debate. The role of the voluntary sector is growing in several member states. Analysis of its impact and modes of operation at EU level is provided both in relation to the ongoing debate on EU institutional change and in order to understand the important specific fields in which public interest groups operate.

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