Maritime Interest Representation in the EU

The EU constitutes a supranational policy-making jurisdiction that has moved decisively into the maritime transport policy field. A variety of maritime interests has identified a new level of power with the EU decision-making process and has re-targeted its lobbying strategies in order to influence the Common Maritime Transport Policy (CMTP). This article examines the patterns and the capabilities of this mobilisation. The first part focuses on the structures of these Euro-groups. Then, the analysis turns on the lobbying practices of these interests groups in the context of the EU co-decision process of policy-making. The final part weighs the extent that the ÔEU environmentÕ and the Ôeconomic environmentÕ assist, or undermine, the governability of these lobbying activities and their capacity to be coherent policy actors that serve the interests of their members in the long-term.