Panel Discussion on Perspectives of Regulating Lobbying in the EU and Croatia

About the project

The project addresses the challenges of low awareness and involvement of Croatian citizens in European Citizen Initiatives and EC public consultations on draft EU policies, as well as the lack of academic research, teaching and public debates about those challenges. It aims to promote excellence in teaching and research on active European democratic citizenship and strengthen the understanding of how the EU works as a precondition for active citizen engagement in EU policymaking. Given the low trust of Croatian citizens in the EU institutions and trends of disinformation about the EU, the project aims to contribute to the societal resilience to democratic backsliding tendencies and growing threats to fundamental European values.

By combining innovative teaching methods, students’ community engagement, research, and multi-stakeholder public debates, the project will enhance the active European citizenship competencies among students of political science and journalism at the Faculty of Political Science of the University of Zagreb and encourage them to share their knowledge about the EU among Croatian citizens. Through conducting communication campaigns on European citizen initiatives and EC public consultations and through participating in a simulation of negotiations on selected EU legislative files, students will develop their critical thinking skills and learn how to actively engage in European democratic life. Various events on active citizen engagement in EU policymaking will be organized to mobilise the participation of representatives of the academic community, civil society, media, and business, as well as local, state and EU-level policymakers. Drawing on the empirical evidence gathered during the project, a series of research papers will be published and the findings widely disseminated. The project should provide an impetus to increasing the number of Croatian citizens participating in European citizen initiatives and EC public consultations. The duration of the project is from September 2023 until September 2026.

A panel discussion „Lobbying as a Profession: Perspectives of Regulating Lobbying in the EU and Croatia“ was held at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb, on Monday, 8 January 2024.

The panel offered an opportunity for an exchange of views between students and professional lobbyists on the development of lobbying as a legitimate democratic practice in the EU and national policymaking processes. In addition, expectations from the proposed Law on Lobbying in Croatia were discussed.

What does it take for lobbying to be widely recognized as a profession? While discussing professional values, norms, and skills, a significant point was the societal and community recognition of lobbying, intricately linked to democratic traditions and the quality of regulatory frameworks. The debate was also focused on the role of lobbyists as key players in the democratic process, bridging the gap between various stakeholders and policymakers.

Panel participants emphasised that, due to their knowledge about the EU and national policymaking processes, students of political science are particularly well positioned for careers in public affairs, government relations and lobbying.

Jean Monnet Chair "Active European Democratic Citizenship for Resilient Society"

About the project

Key staff members from the Faculty

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Panel Discussion on Perspectives of Regulating Lobbying in the EU and Croatia