The first law of lobbying is to turn up.
I’ve randomly looked at three legislative files I know a little about to see if the people interested in an issue are turning up.
I’ve done this by looking at:
Have Your Say Public Consultation Responses
The EP’s Transparency Statements
And Rapporteur’s statements of whom they have received input from.
For this exercise, people can include – Trade Associations, NGOs, companies, governments or individuals.
What Windows of Opportunity
Good times to feed your viewpoint are during consultations on:
- Road Map
- Public Consultation
- Feedback on the legislative proposal
- Feedback to MEPs working on the file
What’s the Interest
I looked at three files I knew about in passing to see what the input levels were for each stage. These are files that I thought a lot of people/interests were active on.
You see that the input at the roadmap stage is low and spikes during the public consultation, one getting neatly 4,000 people making comments. Then afterwards, it is downhill very quickly with low numbers on the proposal feedback.
Most interesting is the proportionally very low numbers contacting MEPs to get their case taken up. This is when you have the best chance of getting your issue taken up. Most people interested in the file are ignoring this stage.
My general advice is to be active over the long term if you want to influence EU public policy. I don’t think silence is a good idea. It’s an idea soundly rejected by most.
The outreach to MEPs is dominated by industry, with a meagre NGO appearance.
Many people contacting MEPs don’t make their case to a cross-party group of interests.
On all these files, I also did a rough guestimate of people who say they are actively interested in the file and those who turned up. Most did not turn up.
Maybe something for a PhD student to run with.
If there is a reasonable explanation for the level of outreach, for example, MEPs won’t meet you, can you let me know?