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I co-authored the most recent edition of the textbook “How the European Institutions Work” (John Harper Publishing, 2020), where I wrote the chapter about the European Parliament.

EU legislation has worldwide and serious impacts for governments, businesses and consumers. In this systematic and practical handbook, expert Brussels professionals share their insights, tips and strategies for engaging successfully with the process by which these laws are made. The authors show how lobbying is a multi-stage end-to-end process and explain the opportunities, challenges and risks at each step. 

The book is full of real-world insights, timelines for how legislation is adopted, checklists of key points and actions, flowcharts and explanatory diagrams.

Section 1, which takes a comprehensive approach to public affairs management, reviews innovative methods for building influence, setting issue priorities, employing IT tools, communicating with the news media, attracting a social media following, and advancing issues through third-country advocacy.

Section 2 helps the reader apply these strategies to dealings with EU institutions. It covers the roles of the European Commission, Parliament and EU Councils, following Ordinary Legislative Procedure, and working with Delegated and Implementing Acts.

Section 3 sums up the various insights from contributors and provides guidance for successful EU advocacy. Note: This book can be read as a standalone or in conjunction with How the EU Institutions Work:  Your handbook and guide to EU decision-making (ISBN 9781838089801), which is a foundation text explaining how the EU institutions work together in the legislative process.