Parties and Interest Groups

The EEC was designed and long run by bureaucrats and politicians, who referred little — if at all — to public opinion. But as the reach of integration expanded, so more Europeans became interested in expressing their views. For some, this was a positive interest, driven by a belief that European institutions deserved, even demanded, their attention. For others, it was a negative interest, driven by concerns that these institutions were undemocratic, too powerful and a threat to national sovereignty. For all political parties and interest groups have become key channels of engagement.