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Countless interest groups representing governments and civil societies try to lobby the European Union effectively in pursuit of the desired legislation, subsidies and more. This book describes the everyday practice of lobbying in Brussels, drawing on extensive research and the author's personal experience. The objective of these interest groups is to influence the EU decision-making, of which they see themselves as a stakeholder. To the existing representative bodies such as the Parliament and the Council, they add their practice of lobbying for a desired outcome by making their interests present or represented at the EU level. In a roundabout way, they contribute to the EU integration and also to its democracy, so long as the following conditions are fulfilled.

Countless interest groups representing governments and non-governmental bodies try to lobby the European Union effectively in pursuit of the desired legislation, subsidies and more. Many lobby groups simply do what they see fit. Others manage their affairs in the EU arena more professionally, and it is their home front and their playing field which are the focus of this book. Filled with real cases, examples of good practice, and special issues of EU lobbying, it presents a wealth of information and analysis. Like other political processes, EU lobbying has its limits, acknowledged here, alongside its contribution to democracy, both of which are discussed in this thought-provoking and reflective book.

More Machiavelli in Brussels is een uniek boek over belangengroepen en de invloed die zij uitoefenen op de overheid, met name de Europese Unie (EU). Door bevindingen samen te voegen van zowel academici als EU-medewerkers heeft Rinus van Schendelen een praktische handleiding samengesteld, van onschatbare waarde voor een succesvollere lobby binnen de EU. Van Schendelen verbindt in zijn boek twee thema's. Het eerste is Public Affairs Management (PA): de expertise die nodig is om autoriteiten en belanghebbenden effectief en efficiënt te beïnvloeden. Lobbyen speelt hierbij slechts een kleine rol. Traditionele beïnvloedingsmanieren zijn steeds meer achterhaald en worden vervangen door PA. Het tweede thema is de Europese Unie als politiek systeem. Dit systeem is zeer belangrijk door haar wetten en besluiten en door de geldstromen van en naar de EU. Dit trekt ontelbaar veel belangengroepen die opereren voor overheden en maatschappelijke organisaties. Hoe wordt invloed binnen de EU gewonnen of in ieder geval niet verloren? Aan de hand van Machiavelli's uitspraken benadrukt Van Schendelen zijn drie steekwoorden tot succes: ambitie, studie en voorzichtigheid. In deze vierde herziene editie presenteert de auteur nieuwe feiten en voorbeelden uit de praktijk, beperkingen en problemen van PA binnen de EU en de belangrijkste wijzigingen van PA binnen de EU. Rinus van Schendelen is hoogleraar Politicologie aan de Erasmus Universiteit in Rotterdam.

Recalling the work of Niccolò Machiavelli, leading researcher Rinus van Schendelen distills the practices of successful lobbyists down to three basic principles: ambition, study, and prudence. Paying close attention to the special issues implicit in EU lobbying, this book illuminates the practice, its opportunities and pitfalls, and even its contributions to democracy. This revised edition has been strengthened with several new cases, insights and trends, and takes into account the new Treaty of Lisbon.

Five hundred years after his death, Niccolò Machiavelli still draws an astonishing range of contradictory characterizations. Was he a friend of tyrants? An ardent republican loyal to Florence’s free institutions? The father of political realism? A revolutionary populist? A calculating rationalist? A Renaissance humanist? A prophet of Italian unification? A theorist of mixed government? A forerunner to authoritarianism? The master of the dark arts of intrigue? This book provides a vivid and engaging introduction to Machiavelli’s life and works that sheds new light on his originality and relevance. Gabriele Pedullà—a leading Italian expert and acclaimed writer—offers fresh readings of the Florentine thinker’s most famous writings, The Prince and the Discourses on Livy, as well as lesser-known texts. A new and often surprising Machiavelli emerges: one closer to his time but also better suited to inform our own. Pedullà’s portrait of Machiavelli highlights his close attention to social and emotional bonds, staunch opposition to oligarchy, keen awareness of the economic side of power dynamics, and strong preference for history over philosophy as a guide for leaders. This book recovers the excitement Machiavelli roused in his first readers for a twenty-first-century audience, capturing his capacity to provoke, both then and now, with unconventional ideas and startling insights.

Fifty years after the conclusion of the Treaties of Rome (25 March 1957) and the foundation of the European Economic Community, Brussels has become a political world city and international capital with global influence. The acta of the interuniversity and international colloquium, held in Brussels on 18 and 19 December 2006, present a general outline of the research results and 26 contributions, based on original research and divided into three parts. The first part focuses on Brussels' position in the 'world city network'. How has Brussels grown into the European and international 'capital' we know today? What exactly is its legal status as the European 'Capital'? Of course, other aspects such as the relationship between the Brussels-Capital Region and the Europe of Regions and the role of Brussels as the place for lobbying the European Union are also examined. The second part focuses on the interaction between the European institutions and Brussels. What are the socioeconomic, demographic, political and linguistic effects of their presence? Finally, a number of pressure points and areas of tension are analysed. How is Brussels 'imagined' or represented as the capital of Europe? And what is the impact of the European presence on urban planning and security policy? -- Back cover.