Guest Lecture - Perm Rep perspective

Question 1

Schedule of the decision-making process

Answer 1

Question 2

When to lobby?

Answer 2

• Public consultations and impact assessments by the European Commission
• Commission prepares and finalises its legislative proposal
• Council starts negotiating in view of agreement on a general approach
• European Parliament prepares and finalises its position
• Political trilogues between Commission, Council and EP

Question 3

Communication style of lobby groups towards decision-makers (practical example)

Answer 3

• very formal
• colloquial
• ‘business casual’
• sometimes trying to show one is up-to-date with the decision-making process
• mentioning transparency register number, if applicable

Question 4

Chantham House rule

Answer 4

Participants of an event are free to use the information received

-> BUT: neither reveil the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant

Question 5

Reform of EU Transparency Register

Answer 5

Problem: no complete inter-institutional agreement for mandatory transparency register

• > Solution: political agreement between Commission, Council and EP in Dec 2020:
• flagship project on transparency
• very important symbolic character for public opinion on EU functioning
• no registration = no access (now also for Council)