Europa-Tag - Referat für Arbeit und Wirtschaft

Nurturing contacts and
leveraging information
EU directives are increasingly having
a direct infl uence on Munich’s
political room to maneuver. This
affects areas such as services of
general interest, state aid, public
procurement, environmental policy
and traffi c/transportation policy,
but also social affairs. To ensure
that Munich makes its voice heard
and sees its interests properly
represented in Brussels and Strasbourg,
the city once again engaged
in active lobbying in 2011.
The aim is to get Munich’s experts
involved in the process of political
opinion building at EU level. Intensive
efforts to nurture lasting contacts are
a part of this process, as is focused
dialogue between local government
offi cials and the city’s staff at European
level. Lobbying work tends to be
most successful when knowledge of
political developments that could
impact Munich is gained at an early
stage. Only then does the city have
the chance to formulate well-founded
arguments, develop cogent strategies
and focus its infl uence.
Whether it is a question of infl uencing
legislative procedures or getting
involved in consultations, ensuring early
access to information or playing a
specifi c part in certain processes, lobbying
is an effi cient way to achieve
objectives in Brussels. In 2011 alone,
the City of Munich contributed its
expertise in the form of 17 position
papers, some of them prepared in
concert with the Eurocities network
and the German Association of Cities.
The topics covered include improvements
to the EU’s policy on air quality,
the future of the value-added tax
system and the initiative for clean
transportation systems.
Lobbying can only work if the position
papers submitted have the political
backing of the City Council’s Commission
on Europe. It also requires personal
contacts, in-depth expertise and
the support of the various specialist
departments.
The European Affairs Team at the
Department of Labor and Economic
Development coordinates all European
activities on behalf of the City of
Munich. The latter does not have its
own offi ce in Brussels, but does
cooperate closely with organizations
such as the European Offi ce of the
Bavarian Local Authorities, the European
Offi ce of the German Association
of Cities, the Council of European
Municipalities and Regions (CEMR),
Eurocities and various other interest
groups. All of these organizations are
very helpful in establishing contacts.
Moreover, their own bodies and committees
open up all kinds of opportunities
to pool ex perience and exert an
infl uence. We have also built up a
good working relationship with Stadtwerke
München, the Munich utility
company, which has its own dedicated
representation in Brussels.