"Lobbying at the European level is nothing new. In fact, the EU has itself long acknowledged the important role that interest groups play in the EU decision-making process. The European Economic and Social Committee, for instance, established in 1957, formalized EU consultation with employers, workers, and other various interests. The challenge the EU faces, I argue, is not to curtail interest group involvement in the EU decision-making process, but rather to ensure that the lobbying process is fair, impartial and, most importantly, transparent. Current EU mechanisms, however, appear to fall short of these tasks" (Quoted from paper)