Notes on Working with the European Parliament
Key points to consider when working with the European Parliament, including who to reach, the different stages of influence, and the elements to learn at once.
This week’s article is drawn from my notes after reading Alan Hardacre’s How to Work with the EU Institutions. It is a basic textbook for public affairs in Brussels, so I recommend you get yourself a copy if you haven’t already.
Key points
Do your homework on the MEPs you will be working with. Their group, their political party, if they have an interest in national issues, etc. Try to get a clear picture of who they are and what they want to achieve with their legislature.
Network. But more than meeting one-to-one, create a web of connections with key MEPs and policy influencers. Being at the centre of a network is much better than building separate connections.
Bring technical information into a political packaging, readily available to the MEP.
You should aim at working with 25 MEPs and officials per file, more or less 5.
Work with political group coordinators, rapporteurs, shadows, advisors, committee secretariats, and accredited assistants.
Work with the Parliament’s calendar in mind. Get a copy and carry it with you.
Involve the media (MEPs love coverage).
Get access to the European Parliament (via the Transparency Register).
Think long-term.
Issues to consider
Because the EP is the most political institution of the EU, it demands the most vigilance and monitoring.
MEPs are not experts, therefore, they want good, timely, and reliable information. Be this expert.
Don’t overlook assistants and political advisors.
Working with Committees
Committee work is the most important moment to work with MEPs.
To anticipate rapporteur nomination, look out for previous rapporteurs and shadows on similar files, including own-initiative reports.
Provide MEPs with information, including real-life cases backed by evidence and technical information—although it should remain impactful and bite-sized.
Follow debates closely and get in touch regularly with the rapporteurs, shadows, and the Committee secretariat to understand the state of play.
See who tables the amendment. They might become key people for future dossiers.
Get hold of voting lists to understand the order of amendments.
Working with the Plenary
Check the agenda and follow up with key people to understand when and if the report will be on the Plenary agenda.
Sound the political groups to assess the file’s chances of success.
Be present in Strasbourg if you need to do some last-minute lobbying.
Stir the political agenda with MEPs’ help
Use own-initiative reports and written questions to put political issues forward.
You can ask MEPs to write questions to the Council of the EU, the European Council, and the Commission.
In the answer, look for information on how or when the institution will address the issue.
How to map MEPs
You need to account for approximately 25 MEPs in influencing a file.
Maps them according to their position and influence (I wrote an article on this topic a few months back).