EUmatrix regularly organises executive training sessions for professionals interacting with the European Parliament. The next online session is scheduled on Tuesday, the 6th of June (10.00 - 12.30 CET). Click here to participate.

NB: The participation fee is 120 EUR / person.

About the trainer: 

Doru Frantescu is CEO & founder of EUmatrix. He has over 15 years of experience in tracking and advising on EU policy-making, having previously founded and headed VoteWatch Europe. His work has been quoted as an example of best practices by the EU and national institutions and he’s been interviewed by the media around the world (including Financial Times, Bloomberg, Euronews, CNN, France24, BBC, etc). He is also co-author of “How to Work with European Institutions” (John Harper Publishing).  

Content to be delivered during the training: 

1. Introduction of the speaker: personal background and experience with the European Parliament

2. Role of the European Parliament in the institutional triangle

  -What are the functions of the European Parliament?

  -How does the Parliament interact with the Council and the Commission: who influences whom, when, what are the limitations of the powers of the Parliament?

3. Current structure of the European Parliament (which MEPs are in charge?)

  -The institutional leadership

  -The political leadership

  -The Committees: 

        -Institutional leadership (Chairs and Vice-Chairs)

        -Political leadership (Coordinators)

        -Leaders on specific files (rapporteurs, shadows and opinion rapporteurs). How influential are they?

        -The relationship between committees. How are conflicts solved?

  -Plenary session: every vote matters!

4. How laws are made in the European Parliament

  -From the European Commission to the EP Committees and then the plenary. 

  -How to identify the MEPs who will make the difference on the amendments?

5. Transparency requirements in meetings between MEPs or their staff and external stakeholders.

6. How should the PA professionals interact with MEPs and their staff? 

7. How are the politicians in the European Parliament different from diplomats in the Council and the civil servants in the Commission?