How to lobby the national parliament

10 rules for lobby work

This is a short paper aimed to give an overview about possibilities to lobby national politicians for direct democracy in Europe. It is in no way exhausting. It is based on experience in Germany (and partly in the US) and should be taken as helpful information for your national work. It could not be transferred totally in other countries.

1. What is the target group?

Members of your national parliament (especially members of committees for European affairs constitutional and legal affairs), members of your national government, important representatives of your national parties, members from your country in the European parliament, members from your country in the convention on the future of Europe.

2. What can be done?

Personal communication, letters, faxes, e-mails, phone calls, panel discussions.

3. What is the best lobby tool?

Direct communication with a politician. Face-to-face communication offers the best possibilities to convince people. Public discussions with politicians are also very effective but difficult to organise.

4. How do I get in contact?

Phone the office and try to arrange a meeting. Maybe you have to send in a written meeting request. If you send an e-mail don't forget your phone number and your postal address. You have to Phone again if you can't get an answer. Phone again and again if you can't get an answer until you get one... A list of all convention members of your country is available at Mehr Demokratie e.V., Michael Efler (see details below).

5. You are the expert!

Don't forget: you are the expert in direct democracy. In most cases politicians have only few knowledge about initiative and referendum.

6. Prepare yourself!

Think about the goal of the meeting. Prepare to counter typical arguments (policy is too complicated to vote directly upon, the death penalty would be introduced, there is no European people etc.).

7. Be serious but normal!

Wear serious clothes and be friendly and competent. But don't try to be another person.

8. Do further arrangements!

Try to do further arrangements with your representative. This could be a panel discussion, another meeting or information about other interesting politicians you can contact.

9. Rework the meeting!

Thank your representative for the meeting. Write down short minutes of the meeting. Inform your initiative/organization and me (because of an European-wide overview of the lobby work) about the results of the meeting.

10. Don't give up!

Lobby work is hard and tough work and you need a lot of time and patience. But it could be a very useful tool for your work. Best it is integrated into further activities for example media work, street action, coalition building etc.