Countering bias? The EU Commission’s consultation with interest groups

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Countering bias? The EU Commission’s consultation with interest groups. / Binderkrantz, Anne Skorkjær ; Blom-Hansen, Jens ; Senninger, Roman.

In: Journal of European Public Policy, Vol. 28, No. 4, 2021, p. 469-488.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Bibtex

@article{d57d9f60065d447c8ffcc8f2c2e7356a,

title = "Countering bias? The EU Commission{\textquoteright}s consultation with interest groups",

abstract = "The EU Commission regularly consults with external actors when preparing policy proposals. This paper investigates possible bias in the voices the Commission listens to across all policy areas and consultation instruments. We map the full range of consultation instruments used by the Commission and analyse variation in group representation across types of consultations and policy areas. Our analysis draws on a dataset of more than 350 major Commission proposals between 2011 and 2016. We find that the Commission has established a consultation regime with the widespread use of standard consultation instruments, including open online consultations, stakeholder conferences and consultation in closed fora. The range of consulted actors depends on both consultation instruments and policy types. Open online-consultations are most inclusive. Our findings indicate that the Commission may be able to counteract the influence of business by selecting the most appropriate format for consultation.",

keywords = "bias, consultations, EU Commission, interest groups, lobbying, stakeholders",

author = "Binderkrantz, {Anne Skorkj{\ae}r} and Jens Blom-Hansen and Roman Senninger",

year = "2021",

doi = "10.1080/13501763.2020.1748095",

language = "English",

volume = "28",

pages = "469--488",

journal = "Journal of European Public Policy",

issn = "1350-1763",

publisher = "Routledge",

number = "4",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Countering bias? The EU Commission’s consultation with interest groups

AU - Binderkrantz, Anne Skorkjær

AU - Blom-Hansen, Jens

AU - Senninger, Roman

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - The EU Commission regularly consults with external actors when preparing policy proposals. This paper investigates possible bias in the voices the Commission listens to across all policy areas and consultation instruments. We map the full range of consultation instruments used by the Commission and analyse variation in group representation across types of consultations and policy areas. Our analysis draws on a dataset of more than 350 major Commission proposals between 2011 and 2016. We find that the Commission has established a consultation regime with the widespread use of standard consultation instruments, including open online consultations, stakeholder conferences and consultation in closed fora. The range of consulted actors depends on both consultation instruments and policy types. Open online-consultations are most inclusive. Our findings indicate that the Commission may be able to counteract the influence of business by selecting the most appropriate format for consultation.

AB - The EU Commission regularly consults with external actors when preparing policy proposals. This paper investigates possible bias in the voices the Commission listens to across all policy areas and consultation instruments. We map the full range of consultation instruments used by the Commission and analyse variation in group representation across types of consultations and policy areas. Our analysis draws on a dataset of more than 350 major Commission proposals between 2011 and 2016. We find that the Commission has established a consultation regime with the widespread use of standard consultation instruments, including open online consultations, stakeholder conferences and consultation in closed fora. The range of consulted actors depends on both consultation instruments and policy types. Open online-consultations are most inclusive. Our findings indicate that the Commission may be able to counteract the influence of business by selecting the most appropriate format for consultation.

KW - bias

KW - consultations

KW - EU Commission

KW - interest groups

KW - lobbying

KW - stakeholders

U2 - 10.1080/13501763.2020.1748095

DO - 10.1080/13501763.2020.1748095

M3 - Journal article

VL - 28

SP - 469

EP - 488

JO - Journal of European Public Policy

JF - Journal of European Public Policy

SN - 1350-1763

IS - 4

ER -

Department of Political Science