Checklists for an EU Lobbyist

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If you don’t want to leave things to chance or hope that your memory is working effectively when you need it, you’ll rely on checklists/SOPs (standard Operating procedures), templates and good examples.If your work involves delegating to colleagues, you’ll follow up with loom videos, showing how you perform those tasks.
Every time I get asked a question about a procedure, I simply turn to my  folder, and follow the checklist and SOP. It is an idea I took from Atul Gawande in his book Checklist. It is something surgeons and pilots use.  You don’t want your lobbyist playing a youthful debutante on an procedure that is key for you.
Now, I’ve taken this to extreme. I’ve found it the best way to identify any gaps on advisory work. Systemising good practice rather than leaving it to the creative fairies to channel their thoughts when I most need them just seems sensible.
Of course, it removes a lot of the chaos, excitement, whirlwind out of the work. You’ll soon discover that the procedure you are dealing with is not unique. If you follow the right steps, the chances of getting a good outcome, increase. Embracing chaos leads to defeat.
Every time I prepare a Checklist/SOP I ask for feedback from those who know more about the procedure. Each time I learn something useful and add a useful step.
Here is the list of checklists, SOPs, templates, good examples, and some Loom videos showing the product being produced, that I have. It will be different for the area you work on. Mine reflects my practice of working on chemicals.
  1. Procedures
  2. Ordinary legislation: Monster granular chart
  3. Delegated acts: Monster granular chart
  4. Implementing acts: Monster granular chart
  5. RPS Measures: Monster granular chart
  6. Evaluations
Specific stages
  1. Preparation of Strategic Agenda
  2. Preparation of Political Guidelines
  3. Preparing of aAnnual Work Plan
  4. Decide entry
  5. Preparation of an Impact Assessment
  6. Inter-Service Consultation
  7. Tabling of Amendments – EP
  8. Tabling of Amendments – Council
  9. 4 Column document recommendations
  10. Corrigendum procedure
  11. Scrutiny  and challenges of Delegated Acts: EP
  12. Scrutiny and challenges Delegated Acts: Council
  13. Scrutiny and challenges Implementing Acts: EP
  14. Scrutiny  and challenges of RPS Measures: EP
  15. Scrutiny and challenges RPS Measures: Council
  16. Complaint to the Ombudsman
  17. Challenge to European Court
  18. TRIS Notification
Area specific procedures
  1. CLH classification
  2. CLH Classification impacts
  3. REACH Restriction
  4. REACH Authorisation
  5. REACH SHVC
  6. REACH Substance Evaluation
  7. OEL
  8. POP listing
  1. Briefings and feedback
You’ll spend a lot of time drafting feedback. I have cheklists/SOPs for:
  1. Policy memo
  2. Position Paper
  3. Policy Presentation
  4. Feedback to Public Consultation
  5. Briefing for a meeting with a MEP
  6. Briefing for a meeting with a Commissioner
  7. Briefing for a meeting an official
  8. Elevator Pitch
  9. Specific agency consultation feedback
  10. Presentation to a scientific panel
  1. Deconstructing a proposal
Handing over a proposal to a colleague who is new to working on legislative, policy, and regulatory proposals, and asking for an accurate assessment of what it contains, and getting the right answer is unlikely unless you have given them a checklist/SOP. These are the main products I’d recommend:
  1. Understanding a proposal : reading a proposal/law
  2. Keeping on top of your issue in the legislative process: tracking the changes from the EP and Council
  3. Understanding a scientific regulatory proposal
  4. Understanding the opinion of a scientific regulatory body
  5. Reviewing public consultation feedback for ordinary legislation
  6. Reviewing public consultation feedback for a scientific regulatory proposal
  7. Reviewing a Court Judgement
  1. A Pop Up Office
It can be taken to the organising your lobbying practice. There are some products that you’ll produce a lot of, that I find useful to have checklists, SOPs, templates and good examples at hand for:
  1. Accurate list of your Work in Progress. List of legislative, political, policy, and regulatory procedures that will/may impact you
  2. Outlook assessment for next 6-12 months
  3. Issue Tracker
  4. Your position: Internal
  5. Position summary: External
  6. Your supporting material: evidence, shadow impact assessment, legislative language, public policy solution
  7. Overview Timetable for combined Work In Progress
  8. Lobby plan: focus on next 6 months
  9. Resources needed for each Work in Progress, signed off
  10. Position paper
Meetings
You’ll spend a lot of time in external, client and internal meetings.
Meetings – External
  1. Scheduling
  2. Reminder
  3. Rehearsal with client before hand
  4. Key message(s) for meeting and supporting evidence
  5. Leave behind for external meeting
  6. Invite letter/email
  7. Record of meeting
  8. Meeting minute external
  9. Material for external meeting: that will be in the public domain
  10. Profile of people attending
  11. Agreed agenda for meeting
  12. Follow up actions and tracker
  13. Thank you note – 24 hours
Meetings Internal
  1. Agenda: Sent 48 hours in advance
  2. Pre-reads Sent 48 hours in advance
  3. Follow up tracker
Client meetings
  1. Agenda
  2. Pre-reads
  3. Work in Progress Tracker
Monitoring
  1. Issue update
  2. Debate summary and follow up
  3. Media monitor
Media
  1. Media engagement action list
  2. Media plan
  3. Pre-agreed Quote
  4. Press Release – pre-agreed
Client/Donor relation management
Working with your client or donor, you’ll find it useful to have Checklists/SOPs, templates, and good examples for the regular products you need to produce:
  1. Activity Plan 6-12 months
  2. Activity report monthly
  3. Budget tracker
  4. Activity tracker
  5. Annual / 6 month Report to board

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