BUILDING AN EFFICIENT MONITORING SYSTEM

General Coverage

Monitoring for general coverage should result in a document providing accurate information focused on

• the content (positions, political bias or options context)
• the process (steps, deadlines) and
• the actors (institutions, decision-makers, stakeholders)

Tools

1. A table with the list of topics that should be followed and indicating what is at stake for your organisation or client
2. A template document with well-identified rubrics
3. A network of reliable contacts (collection of information via off-lines sources namely direct contacts is msot important)
4. A regularly updated RSS reader
5. List of recipients to whom you should regularly direct the content.

Targeted Coverage

1. Topic (what is the legislative initiative about?)
2. The legal form (communication, directive, regulation)
3. The objectives pursued by the European decision-makers (their rationales)
4. Previous steps taken (consultation, own-initiative report, high level group study)
5. Next steps (to be updated regularly including the relevant deadlines)
6. The content (very brief and focused directly on the issues
7. The stakes for your organisation or client (linked to what you want to change)
8. Key decision-makers within each institution (head of unit, rapporteur, ultimate decision-maker)