Presentation by Ms Murto-Lehtinen, Administrator, Constitutional Affairs Committee, European Parliament on the occasion of the public hearing on Principles, procedures, and action for the implementation of Articles 11(1) and 11(2) of the Lisbon Treaty (EESC SOC section, 17 April 2012)

1. Contacts with civil society are
essential for the work of the
European Parliament

2. How are the contacts organised?
 Members
- meet representatives both at home and in Brussels
- the house is open: public meetings, registered lobbyists have
access
●Intergroups
- unofficial crossparty & crossnational groups of members &
representatives of civil society

3. Committees
 Arrange hearings and workshops
 Some committees have permanent annual meetings
with NGOs
 Rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs have dialogue
with civil society

4. The EP as a whole
 Citizens’ Forums (Agoras)
 2007 on Future of Europe
 2008 on Climate Change
 2011 on the Economic
and Financial Crisis

5. Whom are we listening to?
 Institutionalised interest representation
 European Economic and Social Committee
 Committee of Regions
 European Platforms
 National representatives

6. How the Parliament has implemented
Art 11(1) and 11(2) of the Lisbon Treaty
 Resolution on developing civil dialogue 2009
 Changes in the Rules of Procedure 2009:
– structure for consultation with European civil
society
– rule for the Intergroups

7. A common transparency register
 Parliament has operated a register since 1996
 Parliament Report on 2008
 Joint working group Parliament/Commission
 Joint register since 2011

8. The elected representatives must make
the final decisions
 They are elected by the people and they are
responsible to the people
 They must also make the decision on whom
to consult

9. Transparency
 of the decision making process
– Who is making the decision when and on what
 of the civil society representatives
– Whom they represent
– How they are financed
 of the dialogue process
– Who is participating
– Who has chosen them
– What influence has the consultation had on the decisions
(legislative footprint)

10. Summary
 The European Parliament is having dialogue
with civil society on many levels
 Main principles: advisory role of civil society:
the elected representatives make the final
decisions
 All processes must be transparent