Advocacy in the EU
How Environment NGOs Work
Dr Alan Hardacre
Belgrade, 2 November 2010
learning and development - consultancy - research
©
EIPA 2010
©
EIPA 2010 - www.eipa.eu
Structure
1. Advocacy in Brussels – How it Works
2. Specifics of advocacy for NGOs in Brussels
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EIPA 2010 - www.eipa.eu
Lobbying – A Growth Industry
Rond Point Schuman centre of Brussels Lobbying Interest
If you can think of an interest, an issue, an industry then you will
find a representative promoting it in Brussels...
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EIPA 2010 - www.eipa.eu
Why Lobby in Brussels?
 Increasing % legislation from Brussels (70%+)
 there is virtually no policy area which is not directly or
indirectly affected by decisions taken collectively in Brussels
 Costs and benefits of regulation fall upon virtually every sector
and issue, as EU competencies expand
 Something for all in consensus-oriented system
 In response to actions by other interests
 European Commission, Parliament and Council depend on
lobbying  easy access
Successful lobbying to modify EU legislation
is a competitive environment
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EIPA 2010 - www.eipa.eu
Who lobbies in Brussels
 Business associations
6.000
 NGOs
4.000
 Companies
2.000
 Lawfirms
2.500
 Consultancy firms
1.500
 Regional bodies
3.000
 Press
1.000
Fragmented
Reactive
No dialogue
Poor
Communication
20.000 stakeholders involved
in the EU decision-making process
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EIPA 2010 - www.eipa.eu
Brussels Lobbying Environment
45.000 officials
20.000 stakeholders
Huge power
Technicians
European
Proactive
Fragmented
Reactive
No dialogue
No communication
Officials and stakeholders do
not speak the same language
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EIPA 2010 - www.eipa.eu
What is Advocacy?
Advocacy is a communication technique...
Recipient
Message
Initiator
...that aims to influence
HOW?
Advocacy Tools
WHO?
Public Authorities/Regulators
WHY?
Obtain a gain or avoid a loss
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Methodology
Prepare your case
1
Intelligence
in lobbying
Prepare your case
-
Get informed
Promote an editorial policy
Defend your interests
Set up a project team
Prepare your arguments
2
Map out the
battleground
Battleground
- Mapping
- Main divisions
- Priority targets
- Tactics
3
Defend your positions
- Interests, positions
- Factors of influence
- Lobbying vehicles
Defend your positions
Influence
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Lobbying as a Process – Step 1
Decision to Act
[Reactive/Proactive]
Define Position
[Promote/Modify/Block]
Devise Argumentation
[Shared Goals/Economic/
Feasibility/Fairness/
Constituency]
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Lobbying as a Process – Step 2
Select Lobbying Targets
[Decision-Making]
Approach
Friendly/Undecided or
Opposition
Tactics Selection
[Inside or Outside
Lobbying]
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Inside or Outside Lobbying
Inside
 Face to Face Meetings
 E-Mailing, Letters, Position
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Papers
Drafting Amendments
Consultations
Open Hearings
Events
Site Visits
Networking
Outside
 Press Release
 Press Conference
 Issue Adverts
 Letter Campaigns
 Grassroots mobilisation
 Demonstrations
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Lobbying as a Process – Step 3
Network and Coalitions
[Formally or informally]
Implement Strategy
[Timeline – Dynamic
Process]
Evaluate Success
[Very difficult evaluation]
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The Actions
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Monitoring & Political Intelligence
Development of argumentation: position papers, briefs
Stakeholder Analysis: perception audits
Meetings programme - identification of allies & foes
Regulatory audits
Third Party Advocates
Building coalitions (ad-hoc/single issue/formal)
PR 4 PA - using the media to get your message
across/advertorials
Platforms - seminars/conferences
Proposing legislative amendments etc.
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The Tools and Instruments
 Stakeholder analysis
 Issue management system
 Position Papers and Executive Summaries
 Letters
 Amendments
 Seminars
 One-to-one meetings
 Press releases / responses
 Websites
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Lobbying the Commission
 Early involvement: 80% of a Commission proposal remains in the
final act.
 Offer technical advice and expertise. You may know more about an
issue than the official in charge - your advice could be invaluable.
 But remember to carry out a twofold communication, covering the
Political (Commissioners’ Cabinets) as well as the Technical.
 Influence through other means - alliances with other companies,
trade associations, NGOs, press, etc.
 The Commission prefers European issues – make your issue
European and offer solutions
 Maintain contacts with Commission throughout decision-making
process in other Institutions, given the Commission’s role as
“technical advisor” and facilitator during the discussions between the
EP and Council.
 The Commission is pivotal in implementation – they oversee
everything
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EIPA 2010 - www.eipa.eu
Lobbying the Council
 Working Group level: identify and build a relationship with
relevant attachés involved in key dossiers at the Brussels-level.
Can provide a good source of information on timetables and the
progress of legislative proposals.
 COREPER level: the work of the Council is prepared or coordinated by the Committee of Permanent Representatives, made
up of Permanent Representatives of the MSs and their Deputies.
Maintain contacts to keep them aware of important dossiers or
critical issues.
 The Presidency - build important contacts with the relevant
Presidency staff – know the agenda
 Manage co-ordinated action at the national level, targeting experts
in the Ministries in tandem with an EU-level campaign
 Understand the national political agenda and political colour of
the MS delegation - what are the pressing issues at the national
level that could influence a MS’ position at the EU-level?
 Similarly, coalitions between MSs united on a given issue should
be identified
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Lobbying the Parliament
 Targeting key MEPs: typically 10 to 30 MEPs lead the
amendment of proposals. Likely to be more than 1 Committee, i.e.
lead Committee + opinion-giving Committee (s)
 Provide positive political/emotional arguments, support with facts
 Capacity for timely and quick input
 Understand regional and political agendas beyond parties
 Providing relevant, credible and concise information
 MEPs are accessible
 MEPs are receptive to good lobbying
 Natural allies will be the Green Group and the Environment
Committee – establish contact as soon as possible
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EIPA 2010 - www.eipa.eu
Challenges of Lobbying the Institutions
• Prioritise where to lobby – can not lobby everything/one
• Keeping abreast of political environment (competitors)
• Getting quality input tailor-made for audience
• Ensuring responses to consultations, representation at
hearings
• Following up consultations with high-level meetings
• Adapting messages to audiences in most suitable manner
• Managing to create and coordinate networks of contacts
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EIPA 2010 - www.eipa.eu
Brussels Good Practice
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EIPA 2010 - www.eipa.eu
NGOs and Lobbying in Brussels
• Non profit organizations
• Public interest
• Aims
• Counter power to Business
• Same lobbying methods + a few more
• Not the same resources…
Who is your European
Association?
How can you interact with
them?
• Working with NGOs is important: they are the voice of civil society
• NGOs have field information and impact assessment capacities
• They have access to national and/or European level
• Parliaments are natural allies of NGOs
• NGOs are legitimate actors and have a lot to offer
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EIPA 2010 - www.eipa.eu
Specific Issues for NGOs
• Having an integrated approach and a good lobbying strategy
• Providing technical, emotional and political arguments
• Speaking with one voice and have ‘multipliers’
• Fostering alliances with other sectors and parts of the world
• Gaining the sympathy of stakeholders and their electors
• Mobilizing media and public opinion
• Using social media and the press
• Stakeholders analysis
• Identification of opponents
• Assessing other lobby campaigns
• Reaching a strong consensus amongst heterogeneous NGOs
• Providing case studies and analysis for all policies
• Reaching non-environment stakeholders
• Securing enough funding for advocacy / political work
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EIPA 2010 - www.eipa.eu
Do You Have
Any Questions?
Many thanks for your attention.
a.hardacre@eipa.eu
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EIPA 2010 - www.eipa.eu