ABSTRACT
How influential are public interest organizations in Brussels? How do they exert their influence? To answer these questions one can begin by noting that in recent decades European Union (EU)-level policies have emerged in some policy fields where there have been significant media concern, social and political controversies and prominent social movement involvement. I refer to environmental policy, certain aspects of regional policy in countries where there have been prominent ethnonationalist movements and some aspects of social policy, such as those affecting gender issues, racial equality and a few other areas of social inclusion. Within these policy areas have emerged strong public-interest groups which are often connected to social movements.
