EEC-1992: THREE-LEVEL LEGISLATIVE LOBBYING BY U.S. COMPANIES

EEC-1992: THREE-LEVEL LEGISLATIVE LOBBYING BY U.S. COMPANIES is necessary to exert influence in shaping the final form of directives coming out of the European Economic Community today which will affect the way U.S. companies will do business in Europe after 1992, according to Commerce Department Office of European Community Affairs Director Charles Ludolph. Speaking at a special session on the EEC harmonization at the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association annual meeting in Boca Raton, Florida on Feb. 28, Ludolph indicated that U.S. companies should be monitoring very closely the activities of the European Commission, the EC Council and the European Parliament on specific issues affecting the future regulatory character of post-1992 Europe. Companies cannot afford to wait any longer to get involved in the process, Ludolph indicated, noting that last year in the EEC, 60 directives were implemented and by 1990, virtually all directives must be adopted by the EEC in order to be implemented by the 1992 harmonization deadline. One way to get into the decision-making process is to work with the EEC institutions involved in promulgating the directives. The three bodies that will carry out the majority of the work are the EC Commission itself, the EC Council and the European Parliament. The average timetable for a new piece of legislation is now about 18 months. U.S. companies therefore have a window of opportunity to lobby that lasts only about 18 months, Ludolph noted. "It is important that companies wanting to directly affect the outcome of the EC directives focus energies on the Council to monitor progress in the working parties and lobby member states accordingly; stay in contact with the Commission to assess the extent to which it is content with Council developments; and adapt the efforts in Parliament to take account of the Council's deliberations," Ludolph said.