Introduction

There are approximately 950 business interest associations organised at the EU level and formally constituted in law, accounting for around two-thirds of all EU formal interest organisations. This book is intended for those interested in: whether, and how, these organisations can be strong and cohesive players on the European stage;how the EU environment affects the capacities of business interest associations; andwhy EU business interest associations vary in their cohesiveness. It presents fresh results, drawn from a unique data-set consisting of 49 interviews conducted with EU business associations and 151 conducted with their members, undertaken between 1998 and 2001, and from a wide-ranging review of the literature on business interest associations and EU interest representation. It is a contribution to a number of new and contemporary debates of concern both to analysts of European integration and business interest associations, and to those who work in and with EU business associations. It seeks to be accessible to all these types of readers, whether ‘academic’ or ‘practitioner’.