Guest Lecture - Finance Watch

Question 1

What does ‘Finance Watch’ do?

Answer 1

• Analysing European legislative proposals from a public interest perspective
• Spreading expertise with their members
• Communicating with the specialist and general media
• Engaging in a dialogue (lobbying) with legislators and supervisors

Question 2

Tips and tricks

Answer 2

• target swing voters, not the extremes is more efficient
• trickle down a message
• lobby groups are being lobbied, too

Question 3

Shortcomings and limits of Transparency (Register)

Answer 3

• definition of lobbying: some groups not included
• limits to disclosure: only Commissioners and few officials need to register meetings
• responsible outcome: transparency does not automatically lead to fairer outcome

Question 4

Is lobbying ethical?

Answer 4

• necessary part of democracy
• allows access to a government that is willing to listen to constituents
• sharpens debate by providing the public officials with more information
• lobbying vs. exercising your democratic rights

Question 5

What makes a good lobbyist?

Answer 5

Able to deliver…

• the right message
• at the right time
• to the right person

Question 6

Financial lobby environment

Answer 6

Imbalance between financial industry lobbying expenses and finance NGO expenses: €120M. vs. €4M

Question 7

Impact of COVID-19

Answer 7

• physical meetings replaced by video calls
• harder to contact MEP offices, sometimes easier to contact EC and Council of the EU
• more frequent meetings, but shorter meetings with policymakers
• more people in one meeting
• reduction in informal networking

Question 8

Lobbying in practice: where to intervene?

Answer 8

• one can follow the agenda passively
  … or intervene and set it yourself!

-> best during EC preparatory stage

Question 9

Techniques applied on different levels (Finance Watch)

Answer 9

• formal EU channel: consultations, lobby meetings, events
• social media: campaigns, infographics
• national politics: petitions, meetings, national parliaments

Question 10

Formal EU channel - in practice

Answer 10

• show diversity
• coordinate behind the scenes
• clearinghouse of information
• build coalitions with other NGOs -> every IG focusses on own strength -> also: maintain contact with political groups

Question 11

Social media techniques in practice

Answer 11

Twitter commonly used to prepare meetings

• > having a “trusted source” a public often retweets
• > try to make the “trusted source” also retweet

Question 12

National politics - in practice

Answer 12

• often material produced with NGO members
• analysis of perm reps responses: mapping of who is favouring your proposal/neutral/not
• follow up after perm rep meetings is crucial -> establish connection and exchange information

Question 13

Receptivity of MEPs

Answer 13

• depends rather on political groups, less on geography
• > more conservative groups: more open to industry
• > progressive groups: NGOs etc.
• language aspect is also very important

Question 14

Two types of trilogues

Answer 14

Technical vs. political

-> still chances to influence minor things