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Influencing EU decision making: how to be heard, understood and make a difference?

Influencing EU decision making: how to be heard, understood and make a difference? Sami Tulonen Head of Unit, Nuclear Generation Foratom sami.tulonen@foratom.org. 1. FORATOM, the trade association of the European nuclear energy industry.

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Influencing EU decision making: how to be heard, understood and make a difference?

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  1. Influencing EU decision making: how to be heard, understood and make a difference? Sami Tulonen Head of Unit, Nuclear Generation Foratom sami.tulonen@foratom.org 1

  2. FORATOM, the trade association of the European nuclear energy industry • Acts as the voice of the nuclear energy sector in EU policy debates and initiatives • Works to enhance relations between the industry and the European Institutions • Delivers information on nuclear energy to the European Institutions, the media and the public • Provides regular information to its members on developments emerging from the European Institutions • Acts as an adviser to international organisations and institutions 2

  3. Why does EU lobbying matter? • 60 %of new legislation is initiated at EU level • 70 %of EU law (regulations, directives, decisions and recommendations) affects the business sector in general • 80 %of EU policy-makers (MEPs, civil servants, permanent representatives and government officials) do not have private company experience! 3

  4. Foratom Lobbying Strategy  The primary FORATOM lobbying objective is to ensure that the interests of the EU nuclear community are well-represented and defended through: • building long-term relationships with key players in the European Parliament, the European Commission and other relevant EU Institutions • creating and delivering the correct factual/technical information and political message through meetings and/or written material (e.g. position papers, draft amendments) in a politically usable format 4

  5. Institutional Affairs/ Lobbying  Key targets: - European Commission: Maintain close and regular contact with key officials in the relevant Directorate Generals of the EC (DG TREN, DG ENVI, DG RELEX, DG R&D, DG COMP, DG TRADE…) - European Parliament: Maintain close and regular contact with MEPs, their assistants, the political groups and the civil servants; provide assistance to MEPs (material for speeches, reports, questions); follow different relevant parliamentary Committees (AFET, ITRE, ENVI, JURI)  Other targets: ECOSOC, EURATOM Supply Agency (ESA) 5

  6. Case study: The Nuclear Package • Two main Directives: Safety Standards and Waste Management • Issued in November 2002 by the European Commission • The Foratom Lobbying Team has acted at all stages of the debate, particularly through: • the Commission • the European Parliament • Pro-active actions of Foratom in the preparation and the development of the Nuclear Package have lasted more than one year 6

  7. Case study: The Nuclear Package • The European Commission stage • When the Nuclear Package was issued, Foratom - alerted the industry / formulated comments - set up special Task Forces gathering industry experts - expanded contacts and exchanged information with Commission officials - Foratom elaborated 3 position papers presenting the views of the industry on the Nuclear Package safety standards decommissioning funding waste 7

  8. Case study: The Nuclear Package • Once the Nuclear Package was issued, Foratom also: - organised meetings with senior Commission representatives - distributed widely the Industry views to the Commission services - set up thematic workshops and dinner debates with the Commission, the European Parliament and the IAEA - briefed industry spokespersons prior to meeting with media 8

  9. Case study: The Nuclear Package • The European Parliament Stage • Considering the political environment of the EP on nuclear issues, Foratom: - monitored discussion inside political groups prior to the designation of the rapporteurs - worked in close collaboration with the rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs, Mr. Seppänen (GUE/NGL, Finland) and Mr. Vidal-Quadras Roca (EPP, Spain) and industry committee coordinators - assisted influential MEPs, their assistants and secretariats of relevant committees to draft amendments 9

  10. Conclusions • Influencing EU decision making: how to be heard, understood and make a difference? • Basic Approach: Help the Legislator! - Have your priorities right - Know the playing field and rules of the game: procedures, timing, influential players - Build alliances - Have clear and politically usable messages based on facts - Think European! - Never forget the follow-up! 10

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