Brussels as the capital of a Europe of the regions?

• Main Authors: Michel Huysseune, Theo Jans
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Université Saint-Louis Bruxelles 2008-02-01
• Series: Brussels Studies
• Subjects: European Union; capital of Europe; diplomatic representations
• Online Access: http://journals.openedition.org/brussels/547

Brussels has acquired international capital status for regional and local lobbying. The establishment of a representation to the EU in Brussels has become the standard for regions (and, to a lesser extent, local authorities) from EU Member States. The activities of these representations present a specific profile that partly distinguishes them from classic interest groups and lobbies. They were established for a variety of reasons, such as seeking funding, playing a political role at EU level, and raising the region’s profile and connecting with networks and a supranational community in the proximity of the EU institutions. The offices’ goals and activities have since converged and they now all seek to inform, network, lobby, liaise, and market for their regions. Regions with legislative powers concentrate more on influencing EU policies, which their preferential access to the European Council and Commission allows them to do so effectively. Because of the diversified range of functions that regional offices fulfil, they are relevant and useful to their home regions and likely to be permanent fixtures in Brussels.