EAPN Ireland Advanced Training Session 1 7 September 2006

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EAPN Ireland Advanced TrainingSession 17
September 2006
Influencing EU Policy A guide for anti-poverty
groups Robin Hanan European Anti Poverty Network
(EAPN) Ireland
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Outline

• Why?
• When?
• Who?
• How?
• What?
• Where?

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• Why
• do we need to influence EU policy??
• When
• should we lobby the EU?
• Who
• makes decisions at EU level?
• How
• do we influence them??
• What
• do we need to do?
• Where
• can we get more information?

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Why influence EU policy?

• Key decisions taken at EU level
• Legal for example, equality legislation
• Political for example, commitment to make a
  decisive impact on poverty by 2010
• Economic for example, budgetary policy
• Funding directly and through the Government
• Most decision-making still inter-governmental
• Learn from other countries
• Build alliances

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Whenshould we lobby the EU?

• Legal
• areas of Community competence
• Implementation of EU decisions
• Political
• Open Method of Coordination
• to influence our own Government
• to build alliances
• EU lobbying is linked to national and local
  lobbying, not a stand-alone

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Whomakes decisions at EU level?

• Also
• Oversight
• Court of Justice
• Court of Auditors
• Advisory Bodies
• Economic and Social Committee
• Committee of the Regions

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Decision-making

• Commission proposes all legislation
• Decisions are made by
• The Council alone or
• The Council and Parliament (Co-decision)
• Commission implements decisions

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Council - Forms

• European Council
• Prime Ministers, Taoisigh etc.
• Council of Ministers
• One Minister from each country
• COREPER
• Permanent Representations (Embassies)
• Working Groups
• Standing Groups, Special Groups etc.
• (Presidency chairs all of the above)

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Parliament - Roles

• Legislation
• Co-decision
• Consultation
• Assent
• Supervision
• Approve or reject or sack Commission
• Input to Councils
• Comment on reports

• Representation
• Own initiative reports
• the voice of the people
• Budgetary Power
• Modify budget lines
• Overrule non-compulsory spending
• Reject entire budget

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Parliament - working

• Monthly plenaries
• Committees and delegations
• Political Groups
• Bureau
• Inter-Groups

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Political Groups
European Groups European Groups Irish MEPs Irish MEPs
EPP/ED 268 Fine Gael 5
PES 200 Labour 1
ALDE 88 Marian Harkin (PDs) 1 (0)
Green\EFA 42 (Green Party) (0)
GUE/NGL 41 Sinn Fein 1
Ind/Dem 37 Kathy Sinnott 1
UEN 27 Fianna Fáil 4
NA 29
25 countries 732 Ireland 13 3
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Commission

• Composition
• One Commissioner from each state (ie 25)
• Permanent Civil Service
• Directorate-Generals
• Role
• Proposes decisions
• Implements decisions
• Guardian of the Treaties
• Community Interest

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HowDo we influence them?

• Council
• Through Ministers
• Direct contact, media debate, Oireachtas
  Scrutiny, PQs etc
• Working Groups
• Through Civil Servants
• Direct contacts, partnership, dialogue
• Parliament
• Through MEPs
• Direct contact, especially with assistants
• Commission
• Direct contacts, MEP questions

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Lobbying styles

• Reason
• I have a well-researched case
• Seduction
• I and my organisation are helpful, nice people..
• Blackmail
• If you dont agree, the Government will look bad
  our members will be angry I will not stop
  pestering you

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WhatDo we need to do?

• Information is power
• What decision is being made, when, by who?
• Who can influence this decision?
• Why is our answer correct?
• Credibility
• Who do we speak for? really?
• Are our arguments well-founded?
• Do we know enough to avoid being fobbed off

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What(continued)

• Play to our strengths
• Information from the real world
• Analysis
• Ability to mobilise/influence public opinion
• Build alliances
• European, national, local
• Assertive in public, polite in private
• Consistency
• Persistence, persistence, persistence

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WhereDo I get more information?

• www.eapn.ie
• Policy pages
• How to influence EU policy
• Jargon-buster
• News

www.europa.eu.int Policy pages Institutions Docume
nts www.euireland.ie/ Information points in
Ireland Irish angles on policy Irish MEPs
contacts