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LOBBYING: AN INSIDER'S VIEW FROM PHILIP BUSHELL-MATTHEWS, CONSERVATIVE MEP
Page 27
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Philip Bushill-Matthews says organisations and business people can influence what goes on in Brussels-besides using their vote next week -to ensure that any new legislation is workable. He reckons there are six crucial stages for lobbying:
• Speak to the European Commission before legislation is drawn up. This involves getting to know key civil servants within the EC before they draft any proposals. You can ask your MEP to do this, and it can result in legislation which isn't as bad as it might have been or is even potentially useful. Some organisations, including the FTA, also have a presence in Brussels, which helps.
• Speak to the UK government once any proposals are issued by the EC. "The devil is in the detail make sure the government understands the impact regulations will have. Industry needs to shout about this. It may be that government will trade off one issue for another-maybe not even in the same Directive-if it will help. Lobbying like this is very, very important," BushillMatthews believes.
II Once a "common position" has been reached on the legislation in Brussels, speak to your local MEP as he or she can help push through amendments. • Speak to your local MR MEPs can often be remote and unaccountable, says Bushill-Matthews, but he reckons MPs are a different breed: "Make it completely clear to them that if this legislation goes through your business will suffer, so their constituents will suffer and that you will hold them personally responsible unless they sort out their MEP" He points out that MPs don't like being held accountable, so they will try to sort things out
• Find kindred spirits. Build relationships with people in your industry in other countries other industry associations, companies or driver groups. "It will be much more influential if your view is shared by other member states," he adds.
• Go back to the government again once the regulations or Directives have been agreed in Europe. "Make sure they are not 'gold plating' the legislation," he advises. "This does happen. When I was in business I got eight pages from the Danish government on the Working Time Directive, but 134 from the UK government and a note telling me that it was only 'covering guidance': Solicitor Keith Hearn also cites drivers' hours regulations as an area the UK has 'gold plated': Danish drivers receive a fixed penalty of €54 for any infringement, whereas in Britain, it's a fine of €350-€8,000, or imprisonment: "This was a regulation that didn't need legislation in each country, but Europe hadn't laid down the penalties for any breaches; hence member states applied their own rules."
II Anyone running a business must sometimes wonder whether anyone involved in drawing up Directives and regulations in Brussels has any relevant experience. That is a common worry, says Bushill-Matthews. He ran businesses for Unilever throughout Europe in a previous life, and says more business people need to become MEPs.
"I became fed up being on the receiving end of regulations dreamt up by people who had never had any business experience, so I decided to put my hand up. It is crucial that we have more business people in the European Parliament."
"I became fed up being on the receiving end of regulations dreamt up by people who had never had any business experience, so I decided to put my hand up. It is crucial that we have more business people in the European Parliament."
Actually becoming an MEP might be a step too far into politics for most people, but even using your vote next week, and lobbying your MEP about proposed Directives and regulations might help achieve something.