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Consumer organisations working together

Consumer organisations working together. May 2007 Mc November 2007. The European Consumers Organisation Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs

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Consumer organisations working together

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  1. Consumer organisations working together May 2007 Mc November 2007 The European Consumers Organisation Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs Avenue de Tervueren, 36 -1040 Bruxelles Tel: 0032 2 743 15 90 - Fax: 0032 2 740 28 02 Email: consumers@beuc.eu www.beuc.org

  2. Our daily cocktail of chemicals

  3. Financial services

  4. BEUC • Representing consumer interests towards the EU institutions since 1962 • 40 members from 29 countries • Funded by members and European Commission • 34 members of staff

  5. How we work together The areas we work in: food, environment, safety, health, economic, legal Circulate information to members through dedicated website Expert groups Expert meetings on priority areas Collect research and data from members for position papers, brochures and press contacts Information from new member states and accession countries is very important Agree joint lobby and communication strategies: BEUC acts at EU level in Brussels, BEUC members at national level

  6. BEUC Structure The General Assembly is composed of 40 members from 29 European countries from EU and EEA. The GA determines general BEUC policy & priorities The Executive includes our members from Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain and United Kingdom. The Executive agrees how to implement the general policy

  7. Some key members • Test Achats (Belgium) • UFC - Que Choisir (France) • National Association for Consumer Protection in Hungary - NACPH • Sdruzeni obrany spotrebitelu Ceske republiky (Czech Republic) • Zveza Potrošnikov Slovenije – ZPS (Slovenia) • Altroconsumo (Italy) • Sveriges Konsumentråd – SK (Sweden) • Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios – OCU (Spain) • Polish Consumer Federation National Council (Poland) • Forbrugerradet (Denmark) • VZBV (Germany) • Which? (UK) • Consumentenbond (NL)

  8. Membership criteria • independence: non-governmental, not profit making, independent of industry, trade unions, political parties and government • representative: working at national, regional and local level and across the broad range of consumer policy issues • active in: representation of consumer interests towards the government and other political decision-making bodies; consumer policy work and campaigning; representation of consumer interests in mass media; consumer information … • democratic: in structures and procedures

  9. What BEUC does • lobbying & media relations • market surveillance • training & capacity building • strengthening awareness of availability of independent information to enable informed choices • addressing the demand for product testing • publications: annual report, memorandum for the Presidencies, brochures

  10. How we work together

  11. Why Brussels is so important • 85% of the legislation affecting consumers is decided at European level • Brussels has the largest Press Corps in the world • 15.000 different organisations trying to influence the process • 1 consumer representative for every 100 business representatives

  12. The Institutions EUROPEAN COUNCIL sets the agenda EUROPEAN COMMISSION proposes, manages, regulates ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE represents economic and social groups COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS represents local governments EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT comments, amends, decides COUNCIL OF MINISTERS negotiates, decides MEMBER STATE implements EUROPEAN COURT adjudicates

  13. TIMING IS KEY conciliation Law Council of Ministers European Parliament 2nd reading Council of Ministers European Parliament Common position Working groups Council of Ministers EP Plenary EP Committees European Parliament 1st reading College of Commissioners adopts proposal Consultation of other DGs Commission prepares proposal

  14. BEUC Priorities Council of Ministers Consumer Credit conciliation TWF Single Payment Area 2nd reading Roaming Review of the consumer acquis 1st reading Nutritional labelling Consumer policy strategy

  15. The European Commission

  16. Stavros Dimas Environment Neelie Kroes Competition Markos Kyprianou Health Jacques Barrot Transport Charlie McCreevy Internal Marketand Services Key Commissioners for Consumers Meglena Kuneva Consumer policy

  17. European Commission • College of 27 Commissioners – one per country • Each of Directorate Generals and services works to Commissioner • Commissioners served by cabinet or private office • Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Consumer Affairs (SANCO): Robert Madelin

  18. Consumer programme and strategy for 2007- 2013 • A high level of consumer protection • Effective enforcement of consumer protection rules • Integration of consumer policy in other policy areas • Needs of consumer organisations in new member states, especially training

  19. The European Commission: who to lobby • Desk officers • Directors, Directors General • Cabinet or responsible portfolio Commissioner • Other cabinets • Other Commission services • Allies

  20. How best to approach the European Commission Research data & facts from as many members as possible - European view Know opponent’s case and provide counter arguments Follow and influence the internal negotiating process within the Commission

  21. How best to approach the European Commission Build up relationship with desk-officer, maybe invite for visit and keep in regular contact Well documented/written and creatively presented position papers Articles in key media, at crucial times- before College of Commissioners meeting on Wednesdays

  22. The Council

  23. Council of Ministers of the European Union • Member states represented by ministers • Co-decision with the European Parliament • Six month rotating Presidency, but troïka approach (Portugal since July 2007) • Closed working procedures

  24. Key Councils for Consumers • Competitiveness Council - Consumer Credit • Employment, Social Affairs, Consumer Affairs Council - Consumer Policy Strategy • Agriculture and Fisheries Council - GMOs, CAP • Environment Council - Chemicals • Transport Council - Denied boarding, Passenger rights The fact that consumer issues come up in a lot of Councils makes it more difficult for us to influence the process

  25. The Council The Presidency rotates every six months Ministers of the Member States Permanent Representatives Committee (COREPER) Council Working Groups Comité des représentants permanentsprepares the agenda for the Council meetings

  26. Number of votes by Member State

  27. 345 votes in total. To reach a qualified majority 255 votes are required. For rejection, 90 votes against, at least, are required.

  28. Council Working Groups 27 Delegations composed of - Member State Officials - Attachés Tour de table= 135 minutes

  29. How best to approach the Council At an early stage with research data & facts from the national perspective Build up relationship with Ministry officials, maybe invite for visit and keep in regular contact Well presented position papers- linked to the legislative context

  30. The European Parliament

  31. European Parliament: Seats per country 785 Members

  32. European Parliament 2004-2009

  33. European Parliament Plenary session meets in Strasbourg 20 Committees usually meet in Brussels Key powers Approves nominee for Commission President Approves candidate Commissioners- therefore hearings Approves Commission work programme Adopts EU budget Amends Commission Proposals for legislation Limited right of initiative But not much power regarding the CAP, foreign policy or tax NGOs can make use of possibility of Urgency debates

  34. National delegations EPP (European Peoples Party) – 2004-2009

  35. National delegations PES (European Socialist Party) – 2004-2009

  36. National delegations ALDE (European Liberal Democrats) – 2004-2009

  37. National delegations Greens – 2004-2009

  38. Key moments/targets for lobbying • Before Committee vote • Before Plenary vote • Most impact during 1st reading, less during 2nd reading • 2 key Committees for consumer issues: Environment, public health and food safety Chairman: Miroslav OUZKY (EPP, CZ) Internal Market and consumer protection Chairman: Arlene McCARTHY (PES, UK)

  39. How the EP works • Lead Committee appoints a rapporteur to draft an opinion on a Commission proposal • Each political group represented in the Committee appoints a shadow rapporteur to co-ordinate their group’s amendments to the Commission proposal • Other relevant Committees can also prepare opinions to the Commission proposal; they in turn appoint rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs • Opinion-providing Committee amendments are adopted by the lead Committee • Committee political group leaders - ‘co-ordinators’ - are key targets to lobby

  40. The Consumer and Health Intergroup • An informal group including MEPs from all parties, and all Committees in the European Parliament • Supported by three political groups: EPP, PES, Greens • Co-chairs: Pilar Ayuso (EPP, Spain) and Beatrice Patrie (PES, France) • Meet in Strasbourg during plenary sessions • Discuss key consumer issues on European Parliament agenda • With speakers from the Commission, Council, business, consumer groups

  41. How consumer organisations lobby MEPs • Meet and maintain contacts with national MEPs • One meeting is not enough, regular (2/more times a year) briefing sessions in your offices will be appreciated • Important to communicate the same messages at national and EU level creatively, factually & in a way that’s easy to understand • Letters to national MEPs • Invite them to events you are organising; try to get media coverage • Use the national press to get messages to national MEPs

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