Transcript Lobbying the EU institutions: Why and how?

Lobbying the EU institutions: Why
and how?
Lobbying the EU institutions:
Why and How?
Prague, Thursday 23 February 2006
EPHA, CAL and SKOK workshop “Strengthening
the networking on public health in Czech
Republic”
Anne Hoel,
EPHA – European Public Health Alliance
EPHA Presentation
Workshop session outline
Presentation: the EU policy-making process, the
different actors and the NGO role
Presentation of the case study: Health and
Consumer Programme
Work in different groups and presentation of the
results
Presentation of EPHA experience and final
overview of lobbying activities
EPHA Presentation
Part 1: EU policy making processes,
the different actors and the NGO role
EPHA Presentation
The European Commission
Voice of the common interest
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Official role as the ‘Guardian of the Treaty’.
It has the sole right to initiate legislation, and
monitors implementation of EU laws.
If Member States do not implement laws
adequately the Commission can start
infringement procedures.
Commissioners are appointed by the Member States but
are required to act in the ‘European interest’ and not of
their home country. They are supported by a Cabinet,
usually of political appointees.
Directorates-General are the core EU civil service,
responsible for drafting EU legislation, organising public
consultations and the day-to-day business of the EU.
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The European Parliament:
Direct voice of the citizens
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Elected for 5 years by the citizens of the
EU to represent their interests.
732 Members of the European
Parliament (MEPs) from 25 countries
EU-wide parties
Job: pass “European Laws” (together
with the Council of Ministers), approve
the annual and multi annual budgets of the EU
Power to dismiss the European Commission
More info on http:www.europarl.eu.int
EPHA Presentation
The Council of Ministers: Voice of
the Member States
The EU is a union of Member States. The highest political and
legislative authority is the European Council which consists of
Member States.
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The Council of Ministers shares with the Parliament the responsibility for
passing laws and taking policy decisions. It also bears the main
responsibility for what the EU does in the field of the common foreign and
security policy and for EU action on some justice and freedom issues.
The Council consists of ministers from the national governments of all the
EU countries. Meetings are attended by whichever ministers are
responsible for the items to be discussed: foreign ministers, ministers of
the economy and finance, ministers for agriculture, etc…
National civil servants posted to Brussels meet weekly to prepare the
Ministerial meetings. They receive instructions from their governments
and the meetings establish the basic positions of each country.
EPHA Presentation
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Role of NGOs and networking
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Many EU policies have an impact – direct or
indirect – on the health of EU citizens
15,000 to 20,000 lobbyists in Brussels and ONLY
10% are NGOs representing citizens’ interests
What is the difference between NGOs and
lobbyists
Networking and alliances are the ONLY way to
make our voice heard - You are unlikely to
succeed alone. Use other NGOs resources
rather than “re-invent the wheel” on your own.
Example: EU Health Policy Forum
EPHA Presentation
CASE STUDY: The Health and
Consumer Programme
PART 2: CASE STUDY - THE HEALTH
AND CONSUMER PROGRAMME
2007-2013
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Presentation of the case study
Work in small groups
EPHA Presentation
CASE STUDY: The Health and
Consumer Programme: overview
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Public Health Programme 2003-2008: health
information, health threats and health
determinants
Commission proposes a joint programme: New
Consumer and Health Programme 2007-2013
3 new strands: deliver response to health
threats, prevent diseases and injuries and
achieve synergies between national health
systems
Increased budget: 1,203 million EUR
EPHA Presentation
CASE STUDY: The Health and
Consumer Programme: Overview
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Weak legal text
 Introduces core funding for European networks of
health NGOs
 Differenciates national agencies: they would only
get 50% co-financing for projects (Vs NGOs that
would get 60%)
 Emphasizes the importance of communication
campaigns, specially towards young people
 Budget: very ambitious objectives and activities,
increased budget but not enough
 Lobby for “1 EUR for health” (1 EUR for each
EPHA Presentation
European citizen).
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CASE STUDY: The Health and
Consumer Programme - Objectives
of EPHA lobbying campaign
Strengthening the legal text
 Establishing clear criterias for NGOs that
will receive core funding
 Increase the levels of co-financing for
projects
 Budget: Increase the overall budget to
match the ambitions
 “1 EUR for health” (1 EUR for each
European
citizen).
EPHA Presentation
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CASE STUDY: The Health and
Consumer Programme
TIME FOR WORK!!!
Imagine that you’re
part of the EPHA
Secretariat....
And You and your
Members have to
achieve the objectives
that I have just set out.
What would you do?
EPHA Presentation
CASE STUDY: The Health and
Consumer Programme - TIPS
Target audience:
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The European
Commission
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The European
Parliament
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The Council
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Other NGOs
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EPHA members
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Medias
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Would you meet the
732 MEPs?
Would you talk to each
representative of
Member States? or
meet each
government?
Would you organise sitin protests in front of the
European Council?
Would you involve
citizens?
CASE STUDY: The Health and
Consumer Programme - TIPS
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Information + context = communication
Background - what is the issue, the processes
and timeframe?
Define your messages - what do you want to say?
What is unique or special about your position?
Identify your targets - who takes the decisions?
Who do they listen to? What is important to them?
Select your vehicles - activities, events,
information releases, meetings, conferences,
media relations, demonstrations
Check the landscape - who are your allies and
opponents? Track their messages and respond.
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Conclusions: Lobbying the EU
institutions: how and why?
PART 3: CONCLUSIONS - LOBBYING
THE EU INSTITUTIONS: HOW AND
WHY?
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Theoretical framework
Health and Consumer Programme example
EPHA Presentation
Conclusion: Lobbying and the role
of NGOs in Brussels – Defining
lobbying
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Direct lobbying: Stating your position on specific
legislation to legislators or other government
employees who participate in the formulation of
legislation, or urge your members to do so.
Grassroots lobbying: Stating your position on
legislation to the general public and asking the general
public to contact legislators or other government
employees who participate in the formulation of
legislation.
EPHA Presentation
Conclusion: Who do we lobby?
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European Commission - Role in policy formulation and
drafting legislation.
European Parliament - accessible, the ‘people’s
representatives’, key role in legislation.
European Council - Policy and position tracking in
Brussels, lobby at the national level.
Other actors - think tanks and academics, NGOs, trade
associations, UN agencies, trade unions, local and
regional authorities, media, embassies, World Health
Organisation.
EPHA Presentation
Conclusion: Roles of the NGO sector
 Monitor, analyse and inform
> what is happening in the institutions? What are the new
policy trends, legal proposals?
> what could this mean for your member organisations or
target group? What actions are needed - passive
monitoring or active lobbying?
> explain the background of the issue, basic elements of the
proposal, the timeframe for action
 Raise awareness – within our membership and other
NGOs - ensure that members understand the implications
for them and their issues of this policy or legislation
 Engage and consult - encourage debate, exchange of
ideas, brainstorm on what should be the goals of lobbying.
Gather viewpoints from communities and target groups particularly those affected by the policy proposal
EPHA Presentation
Conclusion: Roles of the NGO sector
 Challenge - the policy-makers and other stakeholders to
address concerns or provide evidence and arguments for
their positions
 Empower - provide the tools for NGOs to act, eg draft
letters, opportunities to sign-up, attend meetings with
policy-makers.
 Represent - bringing forward the diversity of voices of
civil society, public interest, visibility through the media.
 Follow-up - keep up the momentum, follow the policy
through to implementation, evaluation and review
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Conclusion: Health and Consumer
Programme – EPHA activities
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We monitored the activities (knowing the different
actors, the timetable, etc...) so as to transmit the
knowledge to our members and act in a timely manner
Raised awareness among our members with briefing
and meetings: decision by EPHA members that it was
a priority for EPHA
Engaged debate and drafted position paper with EPHA
members
Empowered our members with voting list,
amendments, key contacts, etc...
Used EPHA as an alliance with each member lobbying
on a particular issue and EPHA secretariat on the
funding part
EPHA Presentation
Conclusion: Health and Consumer
Programme – EPHA activities
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Lobbying the Commission: meetings and
exchange of e-mails when they were drafting the
HCP
European Parliament: 2 conferences
organised with the Commissioner for
Health and Health attachés +
contact and meetings with key MEPs
+ drafting amendments + voting list + letter
Lobbying the Council? EPHA members at national
level, in their own language, to their own contacts
EPHA Presentation
Conclusion: Health and Consumer
Programme – EPHA activities
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Consultation of other NGOs (eg consumer
organisations)
Representing EPHA members in different
conferences
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Media articles
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Follow-up
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Conclusion: Health and Consumer
Programme – Timetable
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One of the main committees of the
European Parliament has adopted the HC
programme
Consistent with our approach - Most of our
amendments were adopted (but the
budget)
Now, it needs to be endorsed by the whole
EP – March 2006
And the Council (vote expected in June)
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YOUR TIME TO LOBBY!!!!!!
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European Public Health Alliance
39-41 Rue d´Arlon
B-1000 Brussels
Belgium
Tel : +32-2 230 30 56
Fax : +32-2 233 38 80
[email protected]
www.epha.org
EPHA Presentation