The European oil & gas industry is concerned about the growing uproar
and opposition against shale gas. Despite shale gas’s importance and viability in North America, the potential for the development and recovery of shale gas in Europe is limited due to stricter regulation, legislation, and higher population density. There is going to be significant legal and regulatory developments relating to
unconventional gas all expected in the coming years, including a possible challenge being raised against hydraulic fracturing. This case study sets out to investigate the strategic considerations and lobbying activities undertaken by the shale gas industry, and to examine opportunities and challenges for the shale gas industry to
influence EU policy‐decisions. Previous attempts to lobby national and EU institutions have been rather sporadic, but there is great potential and willingness to streamline and channel expertise and information, which are critical resources for acquiring access to
the EU policy process. This paper looks at the theoretical framework of strategies of EU interest representation, more specifically at the way corporate and organisational factors influence the political
strategies of shale gas interest groups, and how firms’ lobbying strategies need to be adapted to the complexity of the EU policy
process. Resulting from this analysis, it is argued that the shale gas industry needs to form ad-‐hoc coalitions, which would allow to operate with the flexibility required in the dynamic, multi‐level
and technical EU energy sector.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Research Method and Data: Case Study
2 Shale Gas: Resources, Arguments, and Regulations
2.1 Opposition: Environmental and Health Concerns
2.2 National Resources and Political Positions
2.3 EU Legislative Framework
3 Analytical Framework – Political strategies of EU interest representation
3.1 Economic and organisational determinants of lobbying
3.2 Institutional determinants of lobbying
4 Analysis
5 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This dissertation investigates the strategic considerations and lobbying activities of the shale gas industry within the European Union. It aims to determine how corporate and organizational factors influence political strategies and how these firms can effectively navigate the complex, multi-level regulatory environment of the EU.
- Strategic lobbying and interest representation in the EU policy process.
- The impact of environmental opposition and public health concerns on energy regulation.
- Economic and organizational determinants of effective corporate lobbying.
- The role of ad-hoc coalitions and multi-level policy networks in energy governance.
Excerpt from the Book
3 Analytical Framework – Political strategies of EU interest representation
The starting point of the discussion of representation of business interest in EU politics are questions of power and influence. There is a substantial body of literature written from a broadly pluralist tradition that suggests that businesses enjoy a "privileged position" (Lindblom, 1977) in a modern polity, due to their structural power. In other words, because their investment decisions have an impact on an economy through employment, tax revenues, and general economic prosperity (Coen and Grant, 2006), businesses have the ability to move those investments to polities in which they are treated best. However, this argument does not apply to shale gas, since drilling companies are tied to the area and national government policies wherever deposits are found. In order to make up for their lack of structural power, shale gas businesses have to engage in the formulation of the policies directly influencing their practices.
The ways in which organisations seek to influence public policy vary considerably and so do the terms used to refer to those strategies, tactics, and activities. Peter Koeppl refers to it as "lobbying", which he defines as "the attempted or successful influence of legislative-administrative decisions by public authorities through interested representatives." (Koeppl, 2001, p.71). The term "lobbying", however, has acquired some negative connotations, as a result of unethical and corrupt cases in the past. Alternatively, the term "interest representation" is the most common term in the academic lexicon.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of the shale gas debate, introduces the research problem, and outlines the descriptive case study approach used to analyze lobbying strategies.
2 Shale Gas: Resources, Arguments, and Regulations: Examines the global resource landscape, the opposition driven by environmental concerns, and the current EU legislative framework.
3 Analytical Framework – Political strategies of EU interest representation: Defines the theoretical parameters of interest representation, specifically focusing on economic, organizational, and institutional determinants.
4 Analysis: Applies the theoretical framework to current events in Brussels, evaluating the political responses of stakeholders and the effectiveness of diverse lobbying approaches.
5 Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, offering insights into the future of shale gas lobbying and the necessity for ad-hoc coalitions in the EU.
Keywords
Shale gas, European Union, Interest representation, Lobbying, Energy policy, Hydraulic fracturing, Corporate strategy, Environmental regulation, Multi-level governance, Policy network, Public affairs, Ad-hoc coalitions, Stakeholder management, Energy security, Political influence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The paper examines how the shale gas industry attempts to influence EU policy-making and navigate the political and regulatory challenges associated with unconventional gas extraction.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include the impact of environmental opposition, the role of national vs. EU-level regulations, and the strategic formation of industry coalitions.
What is the research question?
The study seeks to identify which strategic lobbying factors are most effective for shale gas firms when attempting to influence decision-makers within the EU's complex policy environment.
Which methodology does the author apply?
The research employs a descriptive case study approach, utilizing expert interviews, official reports, and political analysis to test hypotheses regarding lobbying behavior.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body evaluates the theoretical framework of lobbying, details the legislative hurdles in the EU, and provides a mapping of key political and non-political stakeholders.
Which keywords define this work?
Relevant keywords include shale gas, EU interest representation, lobbying, policy-making, and environmental regulation.
How do environmental groups impact the industry's strategy?
Environmental opposition forces the industry to move beyond traditional lobbying, requiring them to address public concerns regarding health and safety to gain or maintain a social license to operate.
What is the significance of "ad-hoc coalitions" for the industry?
The author argues that because of the fragmented nature of EU energy policy, forming flexible, ad-hoc coalitions is more effective for exchanging information and accessing decision-makers than rigid, long-term structures.
- Quote paper
- Katrin Schwede (Author), 2012, Shale Gas Interest Representation in the EU, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/188067
