If you want to receive the right treatment, it is helpful to have a correct diagnosis.
If you understand the causes of the ‘problem’ incorrectly, the chances that you will do the right things to resolve the ‘problem’ are at best low.
In European Public Policy, there seems to be incentive for misdiagnosing a ‘problem’.
There are some amazing myths that pop up. They are as dubious as Max Weber’s evidence for the Protestant Work Ethic.
Some of the most common phrases I’ve heard are:
- “the proposal came out of no-where”
- “this was pushed through by one MEP”
- “Franz Timmermans created the Green Deal alone”
- “the lizard people (add the popular conspiracy of the day for all powerful secret group) did it”
- “they ignored our evidence”
- If Germany backs us, we will win.
In most cases, when you dig in a little deeper, you’ll find that the reasons something went awary are far duller.
The issue was in the proposal from day 1 – you just hoped (against hope) it would get removed.
No-one MEP has the influence to push through their personal agenda. They’ll need other MEPs in other groups. You can check how the MEPs voted via EU Matrix. Most of the time, 80% of the MEPs support the proposal. You can check how the Member States vote. Their support levels are often higher.
The former Dutch Commissioner was an able operator. He did not invent the Green Deal. He was tasked with with delivering the agenda presented to him by President von der Leyen.
I don’t deny the existence of the lizard people etc . I just don’t take a faith based attitude to political decision making.David Icke may well be right.
The reasons for not getting the law/public policy you want are usually more mundane:
- You did not turn up at the right time, or at all (surprisingly common).
- You did not bring the right information to the table, to the right people, at the right time, and with necessary clarity for the intended audience.
- You don’t want to read the Political Guidelines, Mission Letters and Work Programmes, the European Council ‘s Strategic Agenda or the speeches of the President.
- You don’t have enough broad political support across the European Parliament and Member States. You game plan that Hungary’s Prime Minister’s Orban’s allies in the EP and Council would sway it for you just did not work out.
- You are not known or trusted beyond isolated political groups.
- Your idea that a proposal was the product of one desk officer in a DG gets dented, when all the members of the ISSG and the ISC Cabinets say they agree with the proposal.
- You refuse to look at similar votes on EU Matrix and believe that your issue is ‘unique’.
- The evidence your handed over contains very little in the way of evidence. It reads more as a statement of faith.
- Germany has historically been one of bigger losers (see here) and more recently, due to the lack of reliability, seen as one of the less trustworthy countries around the negotiating table.
- You believe in David Icke and organise your campaign accordingly.
In medical care, you’d go for a diagnosis to an experienced expert, someone with many years of experience, and a proven success record. Often your specialist will research, publish, and teach. They’ll keep updating their knowledge. Often they will work in a centre of expertise. And, if you are fortunate, as I was, you treatmemt will be reviewed and discussed with other experts in other centres of excellence around Europe.
You’d not use a GP for a specialist intervention.
You’d be brave to use a faith healer or a trainee medical school in their first year.