Maximizing Influence in the European Union after the Lisbon Treaty: From Small State Policy to Smart State Strategy

Abstract

How do small states maximize their influence in the European Union? This article argues that the traditional small state approach to European integration is being undermined by formal and informal developments in the EU. Small states must therefore change their traditional policy focused on binding the great powers to a smart state strategy utilizing small state weakness to gain influence. We outline the basic characteristics of a smart state strategy and illustrate the practical applicability of the strategy by discussing three basic aspects of ideal type smart state behaviour: (1) the state as lobbyist, (2) the state as self‐interested mediator, and (3) the state as norm entrepreneur.

Key Words:

• Small states
• EU
• strategy
• institutional change

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Gert Tinggaard Svendsen, Rebecca Adler‐Nissen, Maja Kluger Rasmussen, Peter Nedergaard and two anonymous referees for comments on earlier drafts.

Notes

1. The Barroso I Commission made a major effort towards acting coherently. This was seen as strengthening it vis‐à‐vis the other EU institutions (Kurpas et al. 2008).

2. If the distribution of seats after the 2009 elections under the Nice and Lisbon Treaties are compared, the major changes include Germany losing three of their 96 seats, Spain gaining four seats (from 50 to 54), and Austria, Sweden and France each gaining two. A number of countries gain a single mandate.

3. The co‐decision procedure consists of up to three readings attempting to reach an agreement between Parliament and Council. Each reading has its own set of rules. See http://ec.europa.eu/codecision/stepbystep/diagram_en.htm.

4. The data covers all rapporteurs on directives and regulations in the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2007 based on a search in the Pre‐lex data base (http://ec.europa.eu/prelex/rech_avancee.cfm?CL=en) combined with a search in the Commission’s list of services (see http://ec.europa.eu/dgs_en.htm). A longer period could have been selected, but the tree years should provide a valid data material for our limited use. While others have surveyed rapporteurs based on nationality (see Mamadouh and Raunio 2003, 346; Benedetto 2005, 81) no surveys combining nationality and policy area have come to our knowledge.