Since 2011, Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs) are established as a new instrument in EU trade policy to monitor compliance with sustainability standards in EU trade agreements. However, they have only done this very inadequately. The study offers the first evaluation of the DAGs' work worldwide. And it assesses the integration of these advisory bodies in political decision-making processes. The authors also formulate recommendations on how to increase the so far low political relevance of DAGs and how they could become a real instrument for civil society involvement in EU policy areas.