Consumer organisations working together November 2007 The European Consumers Organisation Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs Avenue de Tervueren, Bruxelles Tel: Fax:

Our daily cocktail of chemicals

Financial services

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

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

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

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) 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) Some key members

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

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

How we work together

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

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

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

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

The European Commission

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

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

Consumer programme and strategy for 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

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

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

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

The Council

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

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

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

Number of votes by Member State

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

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

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

The European Parliament

European Parliament: Seats per country 785 Members

European Parliament

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

National delegations EPP (European Peoples Party) –

National delegations PES (European Socialist Party) –

National delegations ALDE (European Liberal Democrats) –

National delegations Greens –

Key moments/targets for lobbying Before Committee vote Before Plenary vote Most impact during 1 st reading, less during 2 nd 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)

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

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

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 How consumer organisations lobby MEPs