MEP-INDUSTRY FORUMS AND VALUE

The purpose of MEP-Industry Forums is to facilitate and strengthen the exchange of information between the European Parliament and a given industry sector. Industry Forums are non-profit making organizations, which are supported by a wide range of MEPs from most political groups through a Steering Committee. They are independent and non-partisan platforms which contribute to enhance MEPs’ understanding of a given industrial sector.

Main Objectives of the Industry Forums

1. To provide a focal point and resources for Members of the European Parliament interested in specific issues of a given  industrial sector as well as a platform for industry-Parliament dialogue.
2. To deploy the joint expertise of industry members to spread factual information about their industry to the European Parliament via briefs, meetings, study visits and other regular activities as appropriate.

Industry Forums usually organise monthly events( lunch events, breakfast events, and special events) to foster a dialogue between the European Parliament and a given industry sector. They provide a platform for an open and informal discussion on the policy issues affecting a given industry sector. Attended by a large number of interested MEPs, these meetings focus on a variety of topics, with high-level expert guest speakers from the industry sector, and relevant authorities, regulators and officials.

In practice during Industry Forums events

• The political debate is first introduced by the MEP Chair to a panel of speakers;
• The experts from the given industry sector, the European Commission and consumer/end user groups where appropriate within this panel react to the questions arising from Members of the European Parliament;
• All participants are then invited to voice their opinion;
• The background briefings drafted in preparation for the events are published on the Forum’s website.

The value placed on Industry Forums lie in their position as acknowledged and reliable sources of information, allowing debate and the issuance of impartial commentaries on key issues at the heart of the European legislative agenda. Forums don’t in themselves take position on specific issues.

In order to guarantee their independence and neutrality, Industry Forums have a dedicated Secretariat, and their membership represents the given industry sector.

Typical Organizational Structure of an Industry Forum

1. Steering Committee: Interested Members of the European Parliament form a Steering Committee. Based on the input of the Steering Committee, the Forum aims at developing more useful tools for MEPs, and best meet their needs. The Steering Committee approves MEPs, from different political groups and nationalities as members; reviews the Forum’s role; provides input on the programme of events; gives impetus to its activities.
2. Industry Committee: A wide range of leading players in a given industry sector meet within an Industry Committee. The Industry Committee provides speakers; drafts briefing papers; makes suggestions on the programmes of events; decides the level of member contributions to finance the Forum; elects Administrative Committee members; reviews the activities of the Administration Committees.
3. Administration Committee: The Administrative Committee is drawn from and elected by members of the Industry Committee. The Administrative Committee has responsibility for regular liaison with the Steering Committee on the role of the Forum; sets the agenda of the meetings; selects speakers and briefing drafters; decides on application for membership.

For Members of the European Parliament Industry Forums provide a reliable source of information and a useful tool to underpin debate on policy issues affecting a given industry sector.  Forums usually pay attention to provide contributions that are as balanced and neutral as possible and to foster conditions enabling an open dialogue and improved transparency. Forums are instruments to show the contributions of a given industry for their long term efforts to be better understood by MEPs.

Concretely, Industry Forums offer the possibility

• To engage in discussions with MEPs during their events;
• To provide high-level experts, guest speakers;
• To contribute to the drafting of briefing papers;
• To meet with other representatives from the a whole industry sector in Brussels
• To be referenced in publications and websites.

MEP Comments

1. Industry Forums are good for getting views across to more engaged MEPs
2. Industry Forums are useful to get a broader information on specific issues
3. In one meeting you get not only the facts, but also the opinions from the industry and the politics

Industry Participants

1. Industry Forums provide a unique opportunity to engage in an open-minded dialogue with MEPs on the most topical regulatory initiatives affecting a given industry sector and to highlight the political decisions to be made and their potential implications.
2. Participation in Industry Forums is good for networking and for being confronted with different opinions both among MEPs and industry participants.