Lobbying in Brussels
Richard Tuffs Director ERRIN [email protected] www.errin.eu Tel 0032 2 503 25 30
Contents
Why lobby
Who to lobby
How to lobby
Working in Brussels
Discussion
Why lobby
Lobbying is all about influencing decision making either directly or indirectly
Decision making
Directives, regulations, norms, standards, recommendations, terminology, etc.
Directly or indirectly
Open, upfront or behind the scenes
Lukes three dimensions of power
Lukes – 3 dimensions of power
Democratic voting Electorate, parliament, committees, etc.
Majority wins
Agenda setting Who sets the agenda, who decides what
is to be voted?
Ideological Setting wider frameworks of thinking
Sustainability vs technology
Capitalism vs socialism
Research vs innovation
Lukes
Voting Agenda-setting
Ideological
Activities
Who
Where
How
Timelines
Measuring success
6
EU ‘Lobbying’
In the European context, lobbying enables anyone that is working on EU affairs, to get involved with the EU Institutions, participate in the debate, contribute to the EU decision making, by influencing.
Networking: provide the individuals the opportunity to enhance this influencing potential and maximise the impacts, by bringing together individual resources, skills and interests.
Why lobby
Proactive: to compete for the future, don’t just adapt to the future, make your future Wayne Gretsky “ don’t skate to where
the puck is, skate to where it is going to be”
Reactive: defend your position – someone else may be lobbying against you – doing nothing is not an option
Lobbying, the good, the bad and the ugly
Protecting your interests Getting the right decision at the right time
The ugly…
The ugly… 2
Why lobby in Brussels
Widening power of EU In UK an estimated 13% of Acts and Statutory
Instruments have an EU influence, whereas that rises to 62% when EU regulations are included in addition to Acts and Statutory Instruments.
Single market 500,000 consumers 28 countries EU budget – ‘juste retour’ getting more out than you
put in…
EU institutions Commission Parliament
More powers of co-decision under the Lisbon Treaty
Council Permanent Representations
Committee of the Regions Economic and Social Committee
The opportunities: why Brussels as a Hub ?
EU Budget 2015
12
Funds from Europe
Who pays what?
Longterm lobbying
Lobbies in Brussels
800 Press Corps (second after Washington)
15,000-30,000 lobbyists
5,678 organisations on Transparency Register
1500 professional associations
CEFIC – 150 people
300 companies
200 regions
150? EU networks
Regional networks AER, CEMR, CPMR, CEBR, REGLEG, AlpesRegio,
ISLENET, EURADA, ERRIN, Eurocities…
100 management consultancies/law firms
APCO, Burson-Marsteller, GPlus, Hill & Knowlton, Weber Shandwick…
Cohesion Policy
44% of EU budget
Objective 1 and Objective 2 regions
Objective 2 regions get more funding
Funding implications Overall EU budget
Percentage allocated to cohesion
Sub-divide in categories of regions
Spending categories – what spent on
Shift from cohesion to competitiveness Bridges to brains
Matched funding – how much from regions
Cohesion Policy 2014-2020
3,275,36 6,6
13,12 14,9617,5
53,3
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1984-1987 1987-1991 1990-1994 1994-1998 1998-2002 2002-2006 2007-2013
€ Billion
19
2014-2020
Research Framework Programme €79bn
Horizon 2020 consultation 2011
1303 responses via response to questionnaire
775 position papers
http://ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020/index_en.cfm?pg=home
Consultation on Horizon 2020
European Innovation Council
Workshop on 13th April
80 participants – full house!
Good publicity!
European Innovation Council
1000 replies
170 positions
Problem: Navigating range
of initiatives
Problem: Lack of access to risk
finance
Consultation
Strong agreement to support disruptive innovation
Wide agreement that there are gaps in innovation support for above
Strong calls for EIC that would simplify and fill in gaps
EIC Possible Next Steps
Simplify access to H2020 Innovation Support
SME Instrument, prizes, continue Fast Track to Innovation and FET Open…
Strengthen support for disruptive market creating innovation
Open for any area
SME Instrument should be fully bottom up with improved business processes
Introduce external advice through a group of innovators (serial entrepreneurs, business angels, start ups, etc.) to advise the Commission
EIC ERRIN Possible Next Steps
Suggest a fourth leg to the EIC argumentation:
More focus on building capacity for regional and local place-based research and innovation ecosystems which include research infrastructure, innovation parks/campus, Living Labs, Fab Labs, maker movements, etc. which could possibly be linked to future Smart City calls, Capital of Innovation prize, urban agenda, Innovative Urban Actions, etc.
Possibly work with ENoLL for a joint event in September
Lobbying – does it work?
“It is virtually impossible for any single interest or national association to secure exclusive access to the relevant officials or politicians, let alone to exert exclusive influence”
“ Lobbying is like advertising, 50% of it works, the problem is which 50%?”
Lobbying how?
Understanding
Information
Intelligence
Briefings
Strategy
Tactics
Networking
Multi-player platforms
Return on investment
The Brussels Maze – This way to influence!
Lobbying: some key P’s
Power
Planning
Policy
People Partners
Position
Patience
Process Professional
Expertise
Know your EU policy
EU 2020
Key strategy
3 priorities smart,
sustainable
inclusive
5 targets 7 flagships
Europe 2020: 7 flagships
Smart growth
Sustainable growth
Inclusive growth
Innovation Union
Resource efficient Europe
New skills for new jobs
Mobility – Youth on the move
Industrial policy for the globalisation era
European platform against poverty
Digital Agenda
Innovation Union
Ten key points 1. Member States must invest more in education,
R&D, innovation and ICTs 2. Better value for money by tackling
fragmentation and linked national R&D research and innovation systems
3. Modernise all levels of education 4. Better mobility for researchers and innovators
and completion of the European Research Area 5. Simplify EU funding programmes (FP7/FP8) and
more European Investment Bank Funding and strengthened European Research Council. Structural funds should be fully exploited to develop research and innovation capacities based on smart specialisation strategies
Innovation Union
Ten key points (part 2)
6. Get more innovation out of research with better cooperation between the worlds of business and science
7. Reduce barriers for entrepreneurs to bring ideas to market e.g. better access to finance, affordable IPR, smarter regulation, faster standardisation and strategic use of procurement
8. European Innovation Partnerships should be launched to accelerate research, development and market deployment. First EIP is on healthy ageing (future ones on smart cities, water-efficient Europe, smart mobility, agricultural productivity and sustainability)
9. Exploit EU strengths in design and creativity and champion social and public sector innovation
10. Work better with international partners – opening access to EU programmes by getting access to outside programmes too.
Innovation Union: actions
34 actions backed up by the European Council. The European Parliament is invited to give priority to Innovation Union proposals with an annual major policy debate. Member States (and their regions) should ensure appropriate governance structures and review Structural Funds to reflect Europe 2020 priorities.
Annual Innovation Convention to discuss the state of the Innovation Union Innovation Convention took place December
5th/6th 2011 – 1200 participants…
Policy drivers
Smart Sustainable Inclusive
Competitiveness Environment Skills
Innovation Eco…5Rs Education
SMEs Climate change
Single market
Juncker Priorities 2014
1. A new boost for jobs, growth and investment
2. A connected digital single market
3. A resilient Energy Union with a forward-looking climate change policy
4. A deeper and fairer internal market with a strengthened industrial base
5. A deeper and fairer Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)
6. A reasonable and balanced free trade agreement with the United States
7. An area of Justice and Fundamental Rights based on mutual trust
8. Towards a new policy on migration
9. Europe as a stronger global actor
10. A Union of democratic change.
Planning: the importance of early warning
Draft legislation Decision of the Commission Council and EP readings
Effort Effort
Time
37
policy
political
Start early
policy
politics
Go low and go early Use ideas
Go strong and aim high Use door openers Negotiation… If… then…
Understand timing
Commission Annual Work Programme Published November before the year
Presidency priorities We want a decision on this before… Community patent
Budget negotiations
Flagship roadmaps Actions and dates
Contacts with Commission staff
Proposal / Consultation
For big policy ideas, Commission will do a consultation
Questionnaire
Position papers
Common Strategic Framework
X responses
Concrete is still wet at this stage
Still time to influence
Develop position
Involve other relevant stakeholders
Position: do we know what we know?
What we know What we don’t know
We know
Answered questions
We know that we know
Unanswered questions
We know that we don’t know
We don’t know
Unquestioned answers
We don’t know that we know
Unquestioned questions
We don’t know that we don’t know
Position: what do we want?
Must Like Intend
Minimum that we can accept
We would not say no
Success!
Example
It could be worse!
Example
Put back timing
Narrow scope
Example
Stop a proposal
Get direct wording in text
Power
Low interest High interest
Low influence
Monitoring Seek partners and lobbyists
High influence
Support partners but low intensity
Follow debate
Lead debate and actions
Position
Influence ideas
Seminars
Expert round tables
Academic papers
Think tank papers (EPC, Brueghel…)
Position papers
Case study
Position: bring solutions
Situation As you know*…EU/European consumers want(s)
higher welfare standards for chickens New battery cages for chickens
Problem Not all MS farmers have complied yet Unfair competition
Solution Ban export of eggs from non-compliant farmers
Evaluation of solution Encourages speedy adoption of EU legislation * Eurobarometer – useful for surveys
The Right Message
In The Right Format
To The Right People
At The Right Time
Who to lobby
MEPs
Commission
DG
Other DG
Other DG
Council
Perm Reps
CoR
&
ECOSOC
Other Networks/
Contacts
Other
Representations
Other
Regions
?
“Friends”
? ?
People:stakeholder analysis
Develop alliances
Look for other networks who support your position 80:20 rule
Exchange position papers
Joint meetings
Cross-border alliances always stronger
Look for the EU added value Ask not what the EU can do for you but
what you can do the for the EU
Patience and professionalism
EU policy is slow
Big policy changes take 5 years
The junior officer/intern/MEPs assistant you started talking to in 2011 may be well placed to decide in 2017 or 2021…
Being professional is key, your reputation is your calling card
Professional
Know the dossier inside out
Develop a strong narrative
Good presentation skills in English and all other languages an advantage especially French, German and Spanish
Look professional Business cards on hand
Dress – more smart than casual
Personality – you are the message…
Expertise
Aware of processes
Aware of planning (timetable)
Actively involved in the policy
Aware of the people and how to contact
Networking
Intelligence
Able to articulate a position
Convince , Clear, Concise, Continual but adapting to…
Context
Lobbying and rhetoric
Ethos
Logos
Pathos
Ethos
Identify with your audience
‘Ich bin ein Berliner’
‘Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears’
Look the part…
Logos
Sounding reasonable
Make the audience anticipate the conclusion
Adjust argumentation to audience/context
Astronomer, Physicist and Mathematician cross the border to Scotland and see a black sheep Astronomer – all sheep in Scotland are black
Physicist – some sheep in Scotland are black
Mathematician – in one field, with at least one sheep, with at least one side which is black!
Pathos
Appealing to emotions
Fairtrade
Charities
Trump vs Clinton
BREXIT – I want my country back!
“Networking in Brussels , A practical guide to navigating EU networks”,
Pascal Goergen, 2009
“The new practical guide to the EU labyrinth”,Daniel Gueguen, edition 2009 – now updated
http://www.pacteurope.eu/the-new-practical-guide-to-the-eu-labyrinth/
“iLobby.eu, Survival Guide to EU Lobbying”, Caroline De Cock, 2010
“ European Lobbying’ Daniel Gueguen, 2008
“Machiavelli in Brussels, The Art of Lobbying the EU”, Rinus van Schendelen, 2003 recently updated to The Art of Lobbying the EU: More Machiavelli in Brussels
“Bursting the Brussels Bubble” www.alter.eu
“Lobbying in the European Union – current rules and practices” European Parliament Working Paper AFCO 104EN 04/2003
“Brussels the EU quarter” Lobby Planet, 2005
“Lobbying in Brussels” Friends of the Earth Europe
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/bibliotheque/briefing/2013/130558/LDM_BRI(2013)130558_REV1_EN.pdf
55
Bibliography
for listening
3 rue du Luxembourg
B-1000 Brussels Tel +32 2 503 3554
Richard Tuffs Director
The views expressed in this presentation do not reflect an official ERRIN position
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