how to work with eu institutions ? key note speech by pascal goergen representative of the...
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How to work with EU institutions ?
Key Note Speech by Pascal GoergenRepresentative of the Brussels-Capital Region to the EU
«Practical Skills for Regional Co-operation in Europe»
AER SUMMER SCHOOL – Maramures – 29 August 2006
How to work with EU institutions ?
«Practical Skills for Regional Co-operation in Europe»
AER SUMMER SCHOOL – Maramures – 29 August 2006
How to influence EU decisions ?
How can we defend our interests ?
Introduction
1. Short Definition of Lobbying and Lobbying Techniques
2. Influencing Tools for Regions in the EU Making Process
3. An example : how to lobby the EU Council ?
4. Conclusion : good results, enough work…
Content
Introduction : reminder
• Specific institutional organisation of Belgium : federal State with 3 Regions, 3 Communities and 3 Languages.
•Our Regions have legislative powers (own regional laws) international competences in their fields (research, transport, environment, regional policy,…)
•Diplomatic representative of the Brussels-Capital Region working in the PermRep of Belgium to the EU
Where? Right at the heart of Europe, Rond-Point Schuman, inside the Belgian Permanent representation to the EU
When? Since 1994 (agreement between
the Federal State and the regional level)
Who? 1 representative + 1 deputy-repres.
+ staff
Organization ?
Diplomatically: PR and deputy-PR (no instructions from them) Administratively: Foreign Affairs Administration Politically: Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs
Introduction : structure
Introduction : structure
Government of Brussels-Capital
Minister-President Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister R&D - Employment
Minister of Transport
Minister of Environment
Administration RELEX
PR
Be
lgiu
m
Contacts with the regional administrations
19 local authorities
Other regional/local partners (Brussels-Europe Liaison Office)
Brussels-Capital Region Walloon Region, Flanders
+ 24 Permanent Representations
Brussels-Capital Parliament
Interface between the European institutions on one hand (the Commission, the Council, the European Parliament, the Committee of Regions, the Economic and Social Committee,...) and the Brussels-Capital Region on the other ;
Defending and representing the interests of the Brussels-Capital Region within the European institutions ;
Anticipating decisions to be taken and monitoring the work of the European institutions in close collaboration with the Permanent Representation of Belgium ;
Managing and transferring useful information, analysing proposals for Community regulations and programms ;
Introduction : missions & tasks
Monitoring information, providing opinions and assistance on European dossiers to the Government, the Minister of the Brussels-Capital Region, para-regional organizations, the 19 municipal districts and the inhabitants of the Brussels-Capital Region ;
Coordinating transposition of European directives on the
scale of Brussels ;
Developing relations with other regional representations
present in Brussels in common field (regional policy, research, Euromed partnership,…)
Introduction : missions & tasks
1. Short Definition and Lobbying Techniques (I)
LobbyingLobbying
There are a lot of definition of the word «lobbying» :
« Lobbying is about trying to influence directly or indirectly the process of making, applying or interpreting legislative
measures, norms, regulations or indeed any kind of activity by public authorities.»
Some experts consider «a lobbyist like a merchant of information»…
1. Short Definition and Lobbying Techniques (II)
Phase 1Phase 1 : Identification of the Objectives : Identification of the Objectives
• Reducing costs that will result from a specific directive or regulation
• maximising the advantages of a decision or minimising its consequences
• anticipating decisions that might be made about the implementation of directives or rules
• participating in the preparation of action through thematic networks and with other partners (lobby actions concerning the regions & the ENP)
1. Short Definitionand Lobbying Techniques (III)
Phase 2Phase 2 : Monitoring : Monitoring
Monitoring includes the identification of information providers and decision makers in order to gather, organise and use relevant information.
Good monitoring practice consists to set those informations into a wider context taking all different positions of Member States, political parties, technical detail and technological evolution likely to affect the subject into account.
+ Drafting a clear argument for those involved
1. Short Definition and Lobbying Techniques (IV)
• Phase 3Phase 3 : Developing a strategy : Developing a strategy
4 questions :
• What arguments should be used? (clear arguments !)
• Who are the individuals to exchange and engage with?
• When is the most pertinent moment to act?
• What tactics should be used with what tools?
1. Short Definition and Lobbying Techniques (V)
Phase 4Phase 4 : What tactics shall we use ? : What tactics shall we use ?
There is all number of different, strategic approaches to consider ; consensual or conflictual, confidential or public, direct or indirect.
Phase 5 Phase 5 : the follow up : the follow up
Was it successfull ? What was wrong in our approach ?
Evaluation of the lobbyaction
2.1. The Institutional Triangle :
the targets
2.2. Influencing Tools
Regional offices in Brussels
Brussels based Networks (including the AER)
Political representation from the Regions in Brussels
2. Influencing Tools for Regions in the EU Making Process (I)
2.1. The Institutional Triangle
Parlement européen
Conseil de l’UE Commission
European Ombudsman
European Central Bank
European Investment
Bank
Court of Justice
Court of Auditors
Committee of the Regions
Economic and Social Committee
EU Council
European Parliament
Commission
INSTITUTIONAL TRIANGLE
Opinions
Deals with complaints
Elects
Judicial Control DIRECTIVES REGULATIONS
DECISIONS
4 main targets for lobbying
EU Agencies
Number of regional offices in Brussels between 1984 and 2006
217
76
108
199
231
0
50
100
150
200
250
1984 1988 1994 1995 2000 2006
2.2. Tool 1 : the regional offices
2.3. Tool 3 : the political representation
1. A MEP from your region
2. A representative of your region in the Committee of the Region
3. And why not ? The Commissioner
Very important to anticipate this crucial point before the
local/regional/national elections !
3. An example : how to lobby the EU Council ?
COUNCIL (9 formations)
COREPER I(technical issues)
COREPER II(political issues)
Working Groups : diplomats, experts, …(SAWP, Research Group,…)
Deputy PR (Internal market, research, industry, transport, environment, …)
Permanent Representatives
(institutional and international issues, ECOFIN, Justice, …)
LOBBYINGLOBBYING
Mertens Antici
LOBBYINGLOBBYING
3. How to lobby the Council ?
1. LOBBYING via PermRep (experts, diplomats, PR, deputy PR)1. LOBBYING via PermRep (experts, diplomats, PR, deputy PR)
In Brussels : From the regions (directly via regional offices) in Brussels
From the regions (via the networks) in Brussels
2. LOBBYING via the Capital 2. LOBBYING via the Capital
In the Capital : From the cities directly via the Mayor
From the regions via the political way (President to Minister)
In the Member States via the Ministry, the national experts
It is not easy (except for the Federal States (example It is not easy (except for the Federal States (example of Belgium) of Belgium)
4. Conclusion : good results / enough work …
Good results :
Regional policy : good work concerning the new coperation instrument EGTC : we have it !
Euromed partnership : no word about cities.
Now : the Euromed Pact (EU cofinancing Program)
Enough work …
Lisbon Strategy (2000) : no word about the cities/regions
New Neigbourhood Policy : no word about local/regional authorities
Thank you !Thank you !
Contact :
Pascal Goergen
Email : pgoergen@europ.irisnet.be
Website : www.goergen.be
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