BRUSSELS, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Sweden and the Netherlands are believed to have more influence than more populous countries such as Italy or Romania over policy-making inside the European Union (EU), said a report published recently by the Think Tank EUROPA.
While the Franco-German duo may be the EU's undisputed powerhouse, there is no linear relationship between size and influence over EU policy among the smaller member states, said the report entitled Who Is Big In Brussels published early May.
Ranking member states' permanent representations in Brussels when it comes to size, composition of staff and duration of secondments, the report finds that on these parameters, countries like Ireland and Finland appear overall in a better position to fight for their national interest than countries like Denmark or Latvia.
A successful smart state strategy necessitates that small states are at the forefront of the policy agenda, possess expert knowledge on strategic fields, and that they themselves serve as a leading example of best practices, said the report. Enditem
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