Post on 14-Dec-2015
Lobbying in Brussels
Richard TuffsDirector ERRINdirector@errin.euwww.errin.euTel 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 Decision making
Directives, regulations, norms, standards, recommendations, terminology, etc.
Directly or indirectly Open, upfront or behind the scenes Lukes three dimensions of power
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
LukesVoting Agenda-
settingIdeological
Activities
Who
Where
How
Timelines
Measuring success
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.
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
Lobbying, the good, the bad and the ugly
Protecting your interestsGetting the right decision at the right time
The ugly…
The ugly… 2
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
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
Funding available
Funds from Europe
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…
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
Future Cohesion Policy
3,27 5,36 6,6
13,12 14,9617,5
53,3
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1984-1987 1987-1991 1990-1994 1994-1998 1998-2002 2002-2006 2007-2013
€ Billion
17
2014-2020
Research Framework Programme80+?
Joint Programming
ERANET+
ERANETJTI Artemis Eniac Clean Sky IMI FCH
Art. 169 AAL Bonus
EMRP
JTI PPP
PEOPLE
INFRASTRUCTURES
HEALTH
NMPSPA
SEC
CSH
ELSA
SETPLAN
ICT
ENV
ENE
TRS
EUROSTARS
Fundamental
Applied Innovation DeploymentDevelopment
ICT-FET (Flag Ships)
ERC SMEs and SME Associations
EC
Funds
National
and
Regional
Funds
The European Research and Innovation system
eHealtheIdentityICT for TTEnergy efficiency
Programmes
Instruments
New thematic initiatives
Wind Energy 6B€Solar Energy 16B€Bioenergy 9 B€Carbon Capture & Storage 13B€Electricity Grid 2 B€Sustainable Nuclear Energy 7 B€Smart Cities
PPPEnergy Efficient BuildingsFuture of FactoriesGreen carsFuture Internet
•Alzheimer•Agriculture, Food Security & Climate change•Health and Diet•Cultural Heritage
eHealthSmart gridTT, mobility & logisticsContentLarge Scale Demos & trials
Ageing (More Years Better Lives) Climate Knowledge (Clik-EU)Seas and OceansAntimicrobial resistanceUrban EuropeWater challenges
KBBE
EERP *
NER300 *
Eureka!
Horizon 2020 consultation 2011
1303 responses via response to questionnaire
775 position papers http://ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2
020/index_en.cfm?pg=home
Consultation on Horizon 2020
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%?”
Lobbying how? Understanding Information Intelligence Briefings Strategy Tactics Networking Multi-player platforms Return on investment
The Brussels Maze – This way to influence!
The Brussels Maze – This way to influence!
Lobbying: some key P’s
PowerPlanning
Policy
PeoplePartners
Position
PatienceProcess
Professional
Expertise
Process – the policy cycle
Preparation
Proposal 1
Consultation
DecisionCommission
CoR, ESC, Think Tanks, sectoral associations
and networks experts, regions
Council andEuropean Parliament
Commission
Implementation
MS LRAs
• Green Paper
• Get on agenda• Stop• Influence scope• Influence start date
Proposal 2?
25
The lobbying structure: the EU institutional triangle
European Commission
European CouncilEuropeanParliament
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
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
The European Parliament
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
Know your EU policy
EU 2020
Key strategy
3 prioritiessmart,
sustainable
inclusive
5 targets 7 flagships
Europe 2020: 7 flagships
Smart growth
Sustainable growth
Inclusive growth
Innovation Union
Resource efficient Europe
New skills for new jobs
Mobility – Youth on the move
Industrial policy for the globalisation era
European platform against poverty
Digital Agenda
European Policy
Innovation key driver of EU policy
Innovation Union Ten key points
1. Member States must invest more in education, R&D, innovation and ICTs
2. Better value for money by tackling fragmentation and linked national R&D research and innovation systems
3. Modernise all levels of education4. Better mobility for researchers and innovators
and completion of the European Research Area5. 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
Innovation Union Ten key points (part 2)
6. Get more innovation out of research with better cooperation between the worlds of business and science
7. 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
8. 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)
9. Exploit EU strengths in design and creativity and champion social and public sector innovation
10. Work better with international partners – opening access to EU programmes by getting access to outside programmes too.
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…
Policy drivers
Smart Sustainable Inclusive
Competitiveness Environment Skills
Innovation Eco…5Rs Education
SMEs Climate change
Single market
Planning: the importance of early warning
Draft legislation Decision of the Commission Council and EP readings
EffortEffort
Time
36
policy
political
Start early
policy
politics
Go low and go earlyUse ideas
Go strong and aim high
Use door openers
Negotiation…
If… then…
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
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
Position: do we know what we know?
What we know What we don’t know
We know
Answered questionsWe know that we know
Unanswered questionsWe know that we don’t know
We don’t know
Unquestioned answersWe don’t know that we know
Unquestioned questionsWe don’t know that we don’t know
Position: what do we want?Must Like Intend
Minimum that we can accept
We would not say no
Success!
ExampleIt could be worse!
ExamplePut back timingNarrow scope
ExampleStop a proposalGet direct wording in text
PowerLow interest High interest
Low influence
Monitoring Seek partners and lobbyists
High influence
Support partners but low intensityFollow debate
Lead debate and actions
Position
Influence ideas Seminars Expert round tables Academic papers Think tank papers (EPC, Brueghel…) Position papers Case study
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
The Right Message
In The Right Format
To The Right People
At The Right Time
Who to lobby
MEPs
CommissionDG
Other DG
Other DG
Council
Perm Reps
CoR &
ECOSOC
Other Networks/Contacts
OtherRepresentations
OtherRegions
?
“Friends”
? ?
People:stakeholder analysis
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
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
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
Lobbying: some P’s
PowerPlanning
Policy
PeoplePartners
Position
PatienceProcess
Professional
Expertise
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…
“Networking in Brussels , A practical guide to navigating EU networks”, Pascal Goergen, 2009 “The new practical guide to the EU labyrinth”,Daniel Gueguen, edition 2009“iLobby.eu, Survival Guide to EU Lobbying”, Caroline De Cock, 2010“ European Lobbying’ Daniel Gueguen, 2008 “Machiavelli in Brussels, The Art of Lobbying the EU”, Rinus van Schendelen, 2003 (recently updated) “Bursting the Brussels Bubble” www.alter.eu “Lobbying in the European Union – current rules and practices” European Parliament Working Paper AFCO 104EN 04/2003 “Brussels the EU quarter” Lobby Planet, 2005 “Lobbying in Brussels” Friends of the Earth Europe 51
Bibliography
for listening
3 rue du LuxembourgB-1000 Brussels
Tel +32 2 503 3554
director@errin.eu
Richard TuffsDirector
The views expressed in this presentation do not reflect an official ERRIN position