The Europeanization of interest group politics in Italy: business associations in Rome and the regions

Interest groups have responded to European integration with varied and multi-level adjustment strategies. This article examines the Europeanization of national and regional Italian business associations as they respond to the challenge of EMU and deeper economic integration. A panel survey and analysis of available data indicate that European considerations are plainly evident in interest group goals, strategies, activities, and organization, and that interest group attention to European issues has been increasing. The research does not find neatly ordered patterns of interest group activity in Europe, but rather, a cord lex mix of pressure group strategies, including multi-level lobbying, consistent with multi-level governance models.