Tips on influencing the European Parliament

The European Union (EU) is the second most lobbied political body in the world after US Congress. The European Parliament  is one of the key bodies within the EU and can make decisions representing the 'voice of the people'. Members of the European Parliament or MEPs are directly elected by citizens of the EU to represent citizen's interests. The European Parliament is the first place where proposed EU laws are looked at in more detail by MEPs.

'The EU Parliament is receptive to lobbying and there is quite a good chance to secure amendments to a proposed law as the Parliament debates and votes on amendments.' Dan Pescod, Campaigns Manager - Europe, International and Accessibility, RNIB

Influencing Members of the European Parliament (MEPs)

MEPs are directly elected by EU citizens. They represent citizen's interests when passing laws that affect many aspects of our lives. 

Sacha Cleminson, Senior European Advocacy Officer at the RSPB recommends that campaigners consider targeting MEPs as part of their EU campaign strategy, because they are the pressure tool towards the Commission and can table questions, debates and resolutions for you. This can be a useful way to find out information on an issue, raise the profile of an issue and an opportunity to provide MEPs with relevant information to bring the perspective of you campaign to discussions and debate on a particular topic.

Brian Duggan, Campaigns Officer at the European Parliamentary Labour Party (EPLP), advises that the degree of overlap between the EU and UK politics is growing. The important distinction is that the EU is about the politics of negotiation. MEP's can be important negotiators for your campaign and when contacting them, Duggan says 'have your 30 second bullet'. Be able to concisely explain your issue and have an ask; what action do you want MEPs to take?

When researching the most appropriate or influential MEPs on your issue, remember to: 

• Find out what issues MEPs are interested in
• Establish who the parliamentary spokesperson is on this issue
• Find out which MEPs are sitting on Committees that may be relevant to your campaign issue
• Look to build relationships with these MEPs as they may be able to consider your views when looking at policy and tabling amendments
• Don't forget to build relationships with MEPs researchers too - they can influence their MEP and may have useful insider information that could assist your campaign.
• Find out who the Committee rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs from other political groups.

Although MEPs are members of political parties they do not always support the party view. If your MEP does not have a strong personal view about an issue then your arguments could have a significant effect on how they vote. 

Brussels might seem distant from the UK but Sophie Heitz from Leonard Cheshire Disability finds that MEPs are approachableit is possible to meet your MEP - find out which weeks they hold surgeries in their constituencies.

Top tips from an MEP

Gary Titley MEP is Labour's leader in Europe and shares his tips on influencing MEPs.

"Europe is now an established part of the Governance of Britain. The challenges we now face require local, national, EU and global responses. To influence the debate the third sector needs to operate at these different levels and in different ways." 

MEPs rely on third sector and representative organisations to share their knowledge of the sector with us as legislators. In the legislative process we need your help to guide our thoughts and arguments to shape new legislation.

Health was once seen solely as an issue for national politics, now the disability sector is a powerful lobby in the EU and has secured many important legislative changes."

Influencing tips

• One big difference between Brussels and Westminster is the emphasis is on consensus  rather than confrontation - so talk to all parts of the EU political spectrum.   
• Build relationships with MEP's - 
• Be accurate and honest - don't be tempted to oversell the arguments. 
• Identify the key players in the parliament - so in Committees - the draftsperson or Rapporteurs and then the shadow Rapporteurs from each other political group. 
• Be available - policy making is a two-way process. When looking at amendments [to legislation and policy], MEP's need further information. If you have provide MEPs information or briefings then be available to answer any questions that they might have  

Use the Petitions procedure - anyone in the EU can petition the European Parliament on a subject that comes under the EU's sphere. This could be a complaint, a proposal new law etc. Your MEP can help advise you on this.

Find out more about what MEPs do and how to contact your MEP.

Making personal contact with MEPs

Building personal relationships with MEPs is important. It can be helpful (but is not essential) to go to Brussels and visit MEPs and other officials. You could also invite them onto site visits or educational projects so that they can see the issues for themselves and really understand your campaign.

Whilst campaigning on hazardous chemicals, the Women's Institute (WI) asked their supporters to write individual handwritten letters to MEPs, explaining why the issue is so important to them personally and relevant to the MEP who would receive it.

When visiting MEPs in Brussels, some WI campaigners said they were struck by seeing two separate piles for post in some MEPs offices; one pile for handwritten letters and the other for template letters. WI also tried to make their letters stand out visually; like using coloured paper or using colourful logos. 

The WI felt that the largest impact was achieved through speaking with MEPs in person; establishing relationships and explaining the issue and actions they could take. The WI found MEPs very accessible, from helping to book a cheap Eurostar ticket to making pre-appointments through MEPs offices in the UK. Read more about this campaign 

Tim Phillips, Campaigns Director at Animal Defenders International (ADI) suggests sending thank you letters to MEPs once they have signed up to your campaign and keeping them up to date with the progress of the campaign. Once MEPs are onboard with your campaign, you can demonstrate their support by putting their names or quotes on campaign materials and offering to draft and translate letters of support, for example.

Read about ADI's campaign to end the use of Apes and wild-caught monkeys in experiments  

Speaking the language

Although you do not need to be fluent in different European languages if you speak English or one of the other main languages used in the EU and you can get by through campaigning in English at the European level, it is important to remember that MEPs represent constituencies across the whole of Europe. Creating multilingual information can help to ensure that MEPs take more notice of your campaign.

Tim Phillips, Campaigns Director at Animal Defenders International (ADI) highlights how communicating in different European languages helped to increase the impact of their campaign. ADI translated their larger, more detailed reports outlining the campaign, into the languages of the six largest countries in the EU. By the end of the campaign ADI were translating campaign materials into every EU language.

Some of the work is already done for you as Declarations are translated by the Commission, providing the background information. Working in partnership with organisations from different member states can also help to ensure that key campaign materials are translated into the relevant language.

Find out more about what MEPs do and how to contact your MEP.

Read about ADI's campaign to end the use of Apes and wild-caught monkeys in experiments

Raising the profile of your campaign with MEPs

There are many ways to raise the profile of your campaign with MEPs. One way is to be creative with your campaign strategy. MEPs are also interested in raising their own profile so getting them involved in your campaign can be effective if planned well.

Animal Defenders International (ADI) developed a range of materials as part of their campaign strategy. These ranged from concise reports, DVDs and presentations to 'gorillagrams', 'Pri-mints' and chimp door hangers hung on the doors of MEPs who had not yet signed up their support to the campaign.

Read about ADI's campaign to end the use of Apes and wild-caught monkeys in experiments.  

Strive to stand out. The Women's Institution used various campaign tactics to raise the profile of the REACH Chemicals campaign amongst MEPs and the media. This included a red London double decker bus taking WI members to Strasbourg to deliver a petition, calling for stricter legislation on chemicals found in household products. The petition was presented to the Petitions Committee along with the results of blood test results taken from samples across the UK that contained the presence of chemicals, to underline the issue. On the day before the final vote in Parliament, a huge installation was built outside the building using everyday products that contain harmful chemicals, to draw attention to the vote.

Read about the REACH campaign on hazardous chemicals 

Although the gains from influencing at the EU level can be huge, it can be a slow process. Persistence in campaigning is vital to achieving your campaign goal. The WI campaign lasted for four years but Ruth Bond, a WI trustee said 'if you believe in something then don't give up on it and make as much personal contact as you can. Use all the campaigning tools you can and don't go away'. 

Tips on Committees

Laws proposed by the Commission are looked at and scrutinised by Parliamentary Committees. There are key people within a Committee who are in charge of writing a report on the issue which usually includes changes or amendments to the original proposal. It is important to consider whether influencing Committees might help you to achieve your campaign goals. 

• Identify which committee is looking at proposals relevant to your campaign.
• Find out which MEP is in charge of writing the report as Chairperson or Rapporteur, and meet with them. 
• Establish who the Shadow Rapporteurs are. Shadow Rapporteurs are MEPs from other parties sitting in that committee.
• Other committees may also look at the proposal but from alternative angles. Identify these committees, find out who the Rapportuers and Shadow Rapportuers are and get in touch with them.

Although the European Parliament has little power to initiate proposals in the EU, committees play a key role in influencing policy once it has been proposed by the Commission.

Find out more about Committees 

Find out more about the European Commission and how it works.

European Parliament Intergroups (Cross party groups)

Cross-party groupings, which can include MEPs from across EU Member States are referred to as parliamentary Intergroups. These groups provide a space for MEPs to discuss shared interests which are not represented in standing Committees. Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), including charities, often provide the secretariat to parliamentary Intergroups, coordinating administrative support and information, for example. The EU Disability Intergroup, created in 1980, is coordinated by the European Disability Forum.  

There are both formal and informal Intergroups; formal groups must follow European Parliamentary rules whereas informal Intergroups have more flexibility.  

• Find out whether any Intergroups may be interested in your campaign issue
• Identify which MEPs are in relevant Intergroups
• Contact the secretariat to the Intergroup to find out more information - many groups have a website, for example the European Parliament Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals. Often you can sign up to a newsletter and access meeting agendas and minutes.

Identifying influencing opportunities 

Effective campaigning at the EU level involves identifying and responding to opportunities, so it is important to keep up to date with influencing opportunities. You can subscribe to various EU news channels; these newsletters and websites will alert you to new legislation proposals and consultations. Europa's EU Calendar allows you to find out what is on the agenda of the European institutions in the near future. You can access the calendar at http://europa.eu/eucalendar/

'Keeping up to date with legislation the EU is reviewing has proved more effective than trying to campaign on an issue that the EU is not currently looking to review.' Dan Pescod, Campaigns Manager Europe, International and Accessibility, RNIB.

'EU lobbying can be a long process but it does have many entry points such as MEPs, national governments, political groups in the European Parliament, the European Commission and European Non-Governmental Organisations. These offer many opportunities for campaigners to put their points across to different actors who are involved in the policy-making process.' Sophie Heitz, Leonard Cheshire Disability.

'If you have limited resources then don't spend your time in monitoring news; EU umbrella organisations will be able to keep you updated on the Brussels agenda.' Sacha Cleminson, RSPB. 

Involving the people you represent

It really makes a difference when a campaign is led by, or meaningfully involves, the people it represents. People directly affected by the issues the campaign is aiming to tackle will know exactly what the problems are and provide the moral case for the arguments. Leonard Cheshire Disability [has found that 'EU institutions [and people working within them] recognise this and will tend to be more receptive if you are involving those you represent in your campaigning'.

RSPB found that many MEPs are happy to offer support to their constituents if they believe in the issue. Constituency letters with a well thought-out ask go a long way.

Brian Duggan, Campaigns Officer at the European Parliamentary Labour Party (EPLP), explains how the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) held a general meeting off staff and members to decide on their organisational objectives and what they wished to achieve at European level. The process was specifically structured to engage with members then to engage with the political outcomes which the membership had agreed upon. It was beneficial as an exercise in membership consultation as well as towards achieving political objectives.

Take a look at our free online resource Count Me In exploring how to involve the people your campaign represents to achieve your campaign goals. This includes inspiring examples and ideas to develop meaningful two-way relationship that puts people at the heart of your campaign. 

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