Sara Magdalena Goldberger, Policy Advisor, PirateParty

European Union European Commission

Executive body, responsible for drafting laws, monitoring the treaties and the daily running for EU

European Parliament Council of the European Union

Government ministers European Council

Heads of States

European Union – how it’s connected - II

Lisbon Treaty Entered into force 2009 Provide for ”EU Foreign Minister” and

”EU President” Reforming the system of the European

Council presidencies More powers to the European

Parliament Extending the scope of qualified

majority voting to new areas

European Union – decision procedure

AmendmentsCompromise

Vote in Committee

AmendmentsCompromise

Vote in Plenary

The European Parliament legislative process1. Consultation2. Consent3. Legislative

initiative4. Other procedures

1. EP give opinion on proposed legislation before the Council adopts it

2. EP can veto. Normally only in relation to accession

3. EP initiate1. Annual budget 2. Functioning on the

Union3. Own initiative

reports4. Monetary Union

The European Parliament – What’s so special?

Only EU institution with legislative powers

Only EU institution that is directly elected by the EU citizens

Members of European Parliament elected for a 5 year period

EP – composition 766 Members of European Parliament 28 Member States Seven political groups:

Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats)

Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament

Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance European Conservatives and Reformists Group Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic

Green Left Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group

EP: Committees Foreign Affairs Human Rights Security and Defence Development International Trade Budgets Budgetary Control Economic and Monetary

Affairs Employment and Social

Affairs Environment, Public Health

and Food Safety Industry, Research and

Energy

Internal Market and Consumer Protection

Transport and Tourism Regional Development Agriculture and Rural

Development Fisheries Culture and Education Legal Affairs Civil Liberties, Justice and Home

Affairs Constitutional Affairs Women's Rights and Gender

Equality Petitions

What is lobbying?

Crisis IssuesImmediateShort livedHuman mistakesFacts are clearRarely any moral

disagreementsCleaning up the messUnderinformed publicSocietal vacuum

Long lastingLengthy and disputed

decisionsFactual DisagreementMoral disputesCoalition buildingPublic is well-informedInstitutional matrix

From crisis to issue

pREASSURE

EMERGENCE RESOLUTION PERMANCENCE

Lobbying –Core questionsWho is your audience – direct and indirectWhat is your aimWhat is the risk with your positionWhat have you done to contain or limit the

risk associated with your positionWhat is your source of authority

Issues Management – Best practises cont’1. Is issues managment in

place? Is there a scanning

process in place to identify possible issues

2. Structural Indicator Once diagnosed, issues

must be assigned to a particular employee – issues steward

3. Issues tracking system See issues matrix on

other slide4. Implementation indicator

Issue ownership is clearly assigned at operational level with accountability and visible in reviews

1. Issues sponsorship Senior managers take

active part2. Trustee duties

Senior managers accept they have a trust relationship towards its stakeholders

3. Vertical involvement How actively issues

managment is involved in the strategy development

4. Horizontal involvment How broad is the issues

management process and awareness e.g. are line managers aware of how issues affect them?

Issues Management – Best practices

Chance that the issue materialize

High Low

Impa

ct

Low

High

Who lobbies? Individuals Companies Organisations

Non-governmental organisations Activists Governmental organisations Industry associations

Other MEPs Government officials

Examples of lobbying – the good and the badThe Bad The GoodREACH and Dow

Chemical companyREACH – Registration,

Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals

How grass-roots stopped corporations

Anti-Counter fitting Trade Agreement - ACTA

REACH and Dow Jones

Intense lobbying both in Brussels and Member States: dinners, events, workshops

2003June - NGOs deliver 22000

signatures supporting REACH

Sept. - Joint letter from Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac & Gerard Schröder anti-

REACHDow CEO & President visit

Greece to influence new commissioner and before

Greece’s chair

’03 - New Commissioner: Mr.

DimasSecretary of State Powell

sent 3 telegrams with instructions to US embassies to take direct

action

ACTA and grass roots

ACTA cont’d

ACTA cont’ 25 February, 2012 – THE anti-ACTA day

150 protest marches in 19 countries Second large protest 9 June

41 activist organisations co-operated – aimed at creating a broad coalition with protestes coming from different angles

National and international petitions National German parliament e-petition collected

61.000 names in 1 monthFinancing through crowd sourcing

ACTA cont’Tools

Alternative legislative proposalsPetitions – national and EU wideNewslettersEventsTwitterFacebookInternet activist groups in Member States

A few tips

How do you become a lobbyist?• Personally – Political Science and

International communications• No educational requirements, but important

to learn:To analyze information and develop a coherent

political strategy.To stay informed and up to date on global and

political issues.To predict which issues will stay important,

which issues will fade from importance, and which issues will become important in the future

What is your campaign target?• What do you want to achieve with your lobby

campaign?• Analyse what the proposed measure might mean

for your stakeholders • Identifying your campaign target supports

strategy development• Prepare your strategy by identifying:

• Messages• Arguments• Timing• Whom to contact when

Which tools are used in lobbying? Legislative texts

Work with the European Commission in developing the legislative texts

Prepare alternative legisative texts and amendments Meet with MEPs to try to influence them to introduce “your”

changes “Market” analysis

What the expected outcomes of the legislative proposal Why should the MEP listen to you?

Corporate statements Personal meetings Social media (indirect) Media Events

Get your basics right• Put yourself in the recipient‘s shoes

Ask yourself how you’d like to be contacted and many mistakes will be avoided

“Dear Mr Engström,Further to some recent meetings, our members are concerned

that there are some misunderstandings about transit controls. Please see the attached; as ever, we hope this helps and don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any queries.

Yours sincerely,”• Spell out your acronyms

Unless you work for a well-known organisation like IBM; don't assume it's heard of

• Introduce yourself and your organisation both in written and oral contacts

• Update address and phone registers yearly

Keep in touch even if there isn’t an issue • ”Just keeping in touch” is a good idea • Always something you can speak about and

you'll be remembered easier• If you have information you feel could

benefit an MEP in their work – pass it on even if you don't have an issue at hand

Do what you say you’ll do • If you want to book a meeting – then book a

meeting. Mailing someone telling them you will book a meeting with them and not doing so is unprofessional.

Plan ahead and check the calendar • Avoid getting caught unaware by

subscribing to regular updates from the European Commission and European Parliament

How to get your email read• Get your email read by:

Calling ahead Develop a good subject line Follow up via a phone call

How to get your legislative proposal considered

• Get your legislative proposal considered:

Send it to the MEP before a meeting

Bring it with you to the meeting in print version

Follow-up

Send your amendments and proposals before the vote! • If you are uncertain when a vote takes

place, ask the MEP’s office • Call the committee administrator

responsible • Each EP committee sends out detailed

planning – subscribe to their news

Remember the “home boys”! • EU legislation affect 28+ countries • National parliaments are as important

as the European Parliament. If an MEP wants to be re-elected, s/he is re-elected on national level

• National specialists are very knowledgeable on their subjects and important to involve in your lobbying

• National parliamentarians can also influence the MEP

Meet with the European Commission

• The European Commission drafts all legislation and your points will be heard at an earlier stage in the process

• The Commission is often a year ahead of the Parliament

• Get active in the different platforms that exist within your area of interest

Meet with subject matter specialists

• Every party and committee has subject matter specialists

• Often they that draft amendments• Might not affect the voting but the

better informed they are the better they can do their job. Ask them to be invited to your meeting with the MEP.

Transparency, Transparency, Transparency

• Your efforts will be known • Don’t hide your lobbying efforts • Put your statements on the

corporate /organisational website

Resources European Parliament Transparency

register European Voice EurActiv Eurobrussels EDRi Legislative Observatory – all documents

in any dossier http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/home/home.do

More hints and tips• Probably the best guide to lobbying there is:

Activist guide to the Brussels maze from EDRi http://www.edri.org/files/2012EDRiPapers/activist_guide_to_the_EU.pdf

What is lobbying?Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence

decisions made by government officials, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies