ABSTRACT
The manner in which the European Union (EU) produces public policy is complex. Given that the needs and interests of the various member governments must be taken into account in order to reach a compromise that they can all accept, this is not surprising. Furthermore, parties other than national governments play a role in the process. The EU’s own institutions have a significant amount of power, and it is clear that these institutions often seek to follow their own priorities rather than those of the member states. Individuals and groups from civil society, and private interest groups (bodies which represent trades, manufacturers and professions) are also often able to influence decisions made in Brussels and Strasbourg, the seats of the EU’s main political institutions.
