1 / 52

Lobbying in Brussels

Lobbying in Brussels. Richard Tuffs Director ERRIN director@errin.eu www.errin.eu Tel 0032 2 230 4441. Contents. Why lobby Who to lobby How to lobby Working in Brussels Discussion. Why lobby. Lobbying is all about influencing decision making either directly or indirectly

ryder-hardin
Download Presentation

Lobbying in Brussels

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Lobbying in Brussels Richard Tuffs Director ERRIN director@errin.eu www.errin.eu Tel 0032 2 230 4441

  2. Contents • Why lobby • Who to lobby • How to lobby • Working in Brussels • Discussion

  3. Why lobby • Lobbying is all about influencing decision making either directly or indirectly • Decision making • Directives, regulations, norms, standards, recommendations, terminology, etc. • Directly or indirectly • Open, upfront or behind the scenes • Lukes three dimensions of power

  4. Lukes • Democratic voting • Electorate, parliament, committees, etc. • Majority wins • Agenda setting • Who sets the agenda, who decides what is to be voted? • Ideological • Setting wider frameworks of thinking • Sustainability vs technology • Capitalism vs socialism • Research vs innovation

  5. Lukes

  6. EU ‘Lobbying’ • In the European context, lobbying enables anyone that is working on EU affairs, to get involved with the EU Institutions, participate in the debate, contribute to the EU decision making, by influencing. • Networking: provide the individuals the opportunity to enhance this influencing potential and maximise the impacts, by bringing together individual resources, skills and interests. 6

  7. Why lobby • Proactive: to compete for the future, don’t just adapt to the future, make your future • Wayne Gretsky “ don’t skate to where the puck is, skate to where it is going to be” • Reactive: defend your position – someone else may be lobbying against you – doing nothing is not an option

  8. Lobbying, the good, the bad and the ugly Getting the right decision at the right time Protecting your interests

  9. The ugly…

  10. The ugly… 2

  11. Why lobby in Brussels • Widening power of EU • Estimates from 40% to 80% of EU legislation affects national level • Single market 500,000 consumers • 27 countries • EU budget – ‘juste retour’ getting more out than you put in… • EU institutions • Commission • Parliament • More powers of co-decision under the Lisbon Treaty • Council • Permanent Representations • Committee of the Regions • Economic and Social Committee

  12. Funding available The opportunities: Why Brussels as a Hub ? • The EU budget 2007-13 • EU Policy development: 80% of all national legislation directly or indirectly influenced by decisions made at the European level 12

  13. Funds from Europe

  14. Lobbies in Brussels • 800 Press Corps (second after Washington) • 1500 professional associations • CEFIC – 150 people • 300 companies • 200 regions • 150? EU networks • Regional networks • AER, CEMR, CPMR, CEBR, REGLEG, AlpesRegio, ISLENET, EURADA, ERRIN, Eurocities… • 100 management consultancies/law firms • APCO, Burson-Marsteller, GPlus, Hill & Knowlton, Weber Shandwick…

  15. Cohesion Policy • 44% of EU budget • Objective 1 and Objective 2 regions • Objective 2 regions get more funding • Funding implications • Overall EU budget • Percentage allocated to cohesion • Sub-divide in categories of regions • Spending categories – what spent on • Shift from cohesion to competitiveness • Bridges to brains • Matched funding – how much from regions

  16. Future Cohesion Policy

  17. Research Framework Programme 80+? 2014-2020 17

  18. The European Research and Innovation system Programmes Instruments New thematic initiatives SETPLAN JTI Artemis Eniac Clean Sky IMI FCH Art. 169 AAL Bonus EMRP ERANET JTI PPP ICT-FET (Flag Ships) ERANET+  Wind Energy 6B€ Solar Energy 16B€ Bioenergy 9 B€ Carbon Capture & Storage 13B€ Electricity Grid 2 B€ Sustainable Nuclear Energy 7 B€ Smart Cities Ageing (More Years Better Lives) Climate Knowledge (Clik-EU) Seas and Oceans Antimicrobial resistance Urban Europe Water challenges • Alzheimer • Agriculture, Food Security & Climate change • Health and Diet • Cultural Heritage National and Regional Funds   Joint Programming  Eureka!    ELSA  EERP * NER300 *  EUROSTARS ENV ENE TRS eHealth eIdentity ICT for TT Energy efficiency FP7 HEALTH  CIP SPA SEC CSH NMP  KBBE  ICT PPP Energy Efficient Buildings Future of Factories Green cars Future Internet  EC Funds    ERC SMEs and SME Associations  eHealth Smart grid TT, mobility & logistics Content Large Scale Demos & trials  INFRASTRUCTURES  PEOPLE Deployment Fundamental Applied Development Innovation

  19. Horizon 2020 consultation 2011 • 1303 responses via response to questionnaire • 775 position papers • http://ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020/index_en.cfm?pg=home

  20. Consultation on Horizon 2020

  21. Lobbying – does it work? • “It is virtually impossible for any single interest or national association to secure exclusive access to the relevant officials or politicians, let alone to exert exclusive influence” • “ Lobbying is like advertising, 50% of it works, the problem is which 50%?”

  22. Understanding Information Intelligence Briefings Strategy Tactics Networking Multi-player platforms Return on investment Lobbying how? The Brussels Maze – This way to influence!

  23. Lobbying: some key P’s Patience Process Professional Expertise Partners People Planning Power Position Policy

  24. Process – the policy cycle • Get on agenda • Stop • Influence scope • Influence start date MS LRAs Implementation Commission Council and European Parliament Preparation Decision • Green Paper Proposal 2? Consultation Commission Proposal 1 CoR, ESC, Think Tanks, sectoral associations and networks experts, regions

  25. The lobbying structure: the EU institutional triangle European Commission European Parliament European Council 25

  26. The European Commission • Driving Force –draft proposals for EU Law • 25,000 staff but one third secretarial/translation • Executive Body: implements policies and allocates funds • Guardian of the Treaties: ensure that EU legislation is correctly implemented in MS • The first port of call to either lobby an issue on its agenda or bring a ‘new issue’ 26

  27. The European Parliament • Elected by the Citizens: the Voice of the People • Joint Decision Making Body • Approves with the Council the annual EU budget • Committee Structure • Members sit in Political Groups 27

  28. The Council of the EU : the interest of MS • Ministers from each MS with capacity to commit their governments • Joint Decision Making Body • Political institution of the Union-the Council decides • All MS have a Permanent Representation in Brussels • Each country retains Presidency of Council for 6 months 28

  29. Know your EU policy

  30. Europe 2020: 7 flagships

  31. European Policy Innovation key driver of EU policy

  32. Innovation Union • Ten key points • Member States must invest more in education, R&D, innovation and ICTs • Better value for money by tackling fragmentation and linked national R&D research and innovation systems • Modernise all levels of education • Better mobility for researchers and innovators and completion of the European Research Area • Simplify EU funding programmes (FP7/FP8) and more European Investment Bank Funding and strengthened European Research Council. Structural funds should be fully exploited to develop research and innovation capacities based on smart specialisation strategies

  33. Innovation Union • Ten key points (part 2) • Get more innovation out of research with better cooperation between the worlds of business and science • Reduce barriers for entrepreneurs to bring ideas to market e.g. better access to finance, affordable IPR, smarter regulation, faster standardisation and strategic use of procurement • European Innovation Partnerships should be launched to accelerate research, development and market deployment. First EIP is on healthy ageing (future ones on smart cities, water-efficient Europe, smart mobility, agricultural productivity and sustainability) • Exploit EU strengths in design and creativity and champion social and public sector innovation • Work better with international partners – opening access to EU programmes by getting access to outside programmes too.

  34. Innovation Union: actions • 34 actions backed up by the European Council. The European Parliament is invited to give priority to Innovation Union proposals with an annual major policy debate. Member States (and their regions) should ensure appropriate governance structures and review Structural Funds to reflect Europe 2020 priorities. • Annual Innovation Convention to discuss the state of the Innovation Union • Innovation Convention took place December 5th/6th 2011 – 1200 participants…

  35. Policy drivers

  36. Planning: the importance of early warning Effort Effort political policy Time 36 Draft legislation Decision of the Commission Council and EP readings

  37. Start early politics Go strong and aim high Use door openers Negotiation… If… then… Go low and go early Use ideas policy

  38. Understand timing • Commission Annual Work Programme • Published November before the year • Presidency priorities • We want a decision on this before… • Community patent • Budget negotiations • Flagship roadmaps • Actions and dates • Contacts with Commission staff

  39. Proposal / Consultation • For big policy ideas, Commission will do a consultation • Questionnaire • Position papers • Common Strategic Framework • X responses • Concrete is still wet at this stage • Still time to influence • Develop position • Involve other relevant stakeholders

  40. Position: do we know what we know?

  41. Position: what do we want?

  42. Power

  43. Position • Influence ideas • Seminars • Expert round tables • Academic papers • Think tank papers (EPC, Brueghel…) • Position papers • Case study

  44. Position: bring solutions • Situation • As you know*…EU/European consumers want(s) higher welfare standards for chickens • New battery cages for chickens • Problem • Not all MS farmers have complied yet • Unfair competition • Solution • Ban export of eggs from non-compliant farmers • Evaluation of solution • Encourages speedy adoption of EU legislation * Eurobarometer – useful for surveys

  45. Who to lobby People:stakeholder analysis Other Regions MEPs Other Representations “Friends” Commission DG Other Networks/ Contacts Lobbyist Other DG CoR & ECOSOC Council The Right Message In The Right Format To The Right People At The Right Time Other DG Perm Reps ? ? ?

  46. Develop alliances • Look for other networks who support your position 80:20 rule • Exchange position papers • Joint meetings • Cross-border alliances always stronger • Look for the EU added value • Ask not what the EU can do for you but what you can do the for the EU

  47. Patience and professionalism • EU policy is slow • Big policy changes take 5 years • The junior officer/intern/MEPs assistant you started talking to in 2011 may be well placed to decide in 2016 or 2021… • Being professional is key, your reputation is your calling card

  48. Professional • Know the dossier inside out • Develop a strong narrative • Good presentation skills in English and all other languages an advantage especially French, German and Spanish • Look professional • Business cards on hand • Dress – more smart than casual

  49. Lobbying: some P’s Patience Process Professional Expertise Partners People Planning Power Position Policy

  50. Expertise • Aware of processes • Aware of planning (timetable) • Actively involved in the policy • Aware of the people and how to contact • Networking • Intelligence • Able to articulate a position • Clearly, Concisely, Continually…

More Related