Negative strategies consisting of a face-on opposition to Commission proposals or by proposing untenable counter-proposals; the farming lobbies provide the best illustration of these opposition strategies; •Reactive strategies in which prudence prevails over action and initiatives: monitoring, meetings and a small amount of public relations;•Pro-active strategies consisting of working constructively with the Commission in a spirit of partnership and credibility. Pro-active strategies are relatively rare, which is possibly regrettable because the pro-active lobbyist also offers the legislator an authorised and competent technical opinion and credible proposals.• (Credibility moreover involves companies’ and industries’ capacities to build European alliances with consumers and ecologists)