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

How to influence EU decisions ?

How to lobby ?

Practical tips

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

2.2. Tool 2 : the Brussels Based networks

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