THE EU PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY CHECKLIST: DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT

Before embarking on public policy advocacy and influencing at EU level, whether you are influencing in Brussels or from your own country, you should consider the following key questions:

The EU Public Policy Advocacy Checklist

• What is the problem that you want to address?
• How is the problem relevant to you and/or your organisation and what credibility do you have?
• How is the EU part of the solution to your problem?
• What do you want to change ? (concrete policy and practice outcomes)
• Is there existing EU policy/legislation on your issue?

- If so, do you feel that it is adequate appropriate?

- If so, is it being implemented or not?

- If there is no adequate EU policy on your issue, how can you raise awareness and put your issue on the EU agenda.

• If you have identified a specific document or legislative proposal you want influence you will need to determine:

- What status the document will have (i.e. are you seeking to influence a legislative proposal, council conclusions, a policy document or a staff working document? )

- At what stage is the decision-making process and is there still time to influence it?

- What is the role and weight of the different institutions in the procedure ?

- Should you be influencing the decision at the national level or in Brussels, or both?

- Who will have the final decision?

- What are your allies and opponents (both in terms of peer NGOs, MEPs and EU member states?

- What resources (human and financial) will your advocacy campaign require?

- How will you know when you have reached your aim?