Do you think the EU should adopt a new environmental law? Or that the European Commission's new proposal on working hours is too detailed? There are several ways to try to influence the EU's decisions. You can participate in a consultation with the European Commission or start a citizens’ initiative. You can also contact a member of the Riksdag or of the European Parliament (MEP). If you wish to influence the overall direction of EU policy, you can vote in the elections to the European Parliament (EU elections) and in the elections to the Riksdag in Sweden. The next EU elections will take place in 2029.
There are many ways of influencing legislation in the EU. You can, for example,
When the EU introduces new legislation, the European Commission, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament are all involved. The legislative proposals are also considered in each of the member states. If you want to influence the EU's decisions on new legislation, it is important to have an overview of the various stages of the legislative process.
The legislative process in the EU has a clear division of roles. The European Commission presents legislative proposals which are considered by politicians both in the European Parliament and in the Council of the European Union. The legislative proposals are also considered at home by the Riksdag and the Government.
During the different stages of the legislative process, from an idea being presented to the completed law, it is possible for individuals and organisations to try to influence the EU's decision. You can, for example, submit proposals to the Commission, or contact the Government, members of the Riksdag or members of the European Parliament. In order to have an influence, it is important to have an overview of the various stages of the legislative process.
Decisions on new EU legislation are taken by politicians from the EU member states in the European Parliament and in the Council of the European Union. You can influence the overall direction of EU policy by voting in elections to the European Parliament and to the Riksdag in Sweden.
The European Parliament consists of members elected by the citizens, whose task is to represent the interests of the people when the Parliament adopts new EU legislation together with the Council of the European Union. A general way of influencing EU policy is therefore by voting for the politician or political party that you want to represent you in the European Parliament. You can do this by voting in the elections to the European Parliament, which is a right that all citizens in Sweden and the other member states have. The next elections to the European Parliament will take place in 2029.
Ministers from the member states’ governments participate in the meetings of the Council of the European Union. Their task is to negotiate and take decisions on EU legislation together with the European Parliament. It is the Swedish Government that represents Sweden in the Council. The direction of Swedish EU policy in the Council depends, in other words, on which party or parties forms the Government. However, the Government always consults the Riksdag on Sweden's position on the matters to be dealt with in the Council, and this takes place in the Committee on EU Affairs. The question of which party or parties will form a government is determined at elections to the Riksdag. Voting in the election to the Riksdag is therefore also a way of influencing Sweden's EU policy.
A concrete way of trying to influence the EU's decisions is to turn directly to the European Commission, the Government or members of the Riksdag or the European Parliament. They are all involved in the EU's decision-making process in various ways.
Before the European Commission puts forward a new legislative proposal, it presents its ideas at public consultations. Normally the public, companies and organisations are all welcome to participate in these consultations. During a consultation, you can submit your opinions on the Commission's ideas. The Commission also has a special web portal where members of the public and companies can submit their opinions on new and existing EU legislation and initiatives. Commissioners also travel through the EU in order to hold public meetings – citizens’ dialogues – on topical matters in the EU and on their potential impact on the citizens. The meetings are open to the public, but operate on a first come, first served basis.
When the Commission has presented a proposal for a new law, the Swedish Government adopts a position on the proposal. The Government does this ahead of forthcoming negotiations with the other member states in the Council of the European Union.
Before the Government adopts a position on a matter, it often holds a dialogue with various stakeholders and groups in society. This is done, for example, through special EU consultations to which representatives of organisations and other stakeholders are invited to have their say on topical legislative proposals from the EU. Other ways for organisations to influence a legislative proposal are to respond to referrals or participate in other forms of consultation with the Government. You can have your say by joining an organisation. You can also contact the government minister responsible for the subject of the legislative proposal and present your opinions.
The Government of Sweden on the Government Offices website
Ahead of negotiations on legislative proposals in the Council of the European Union, the Government must consult the Riksdag regarding Sweden's position. These discussions take place in the Riksdag Committee on EU Affairs, which consists of politicians from all the parties represented in the Riksdag.
If you wish to put forward your opinions on an EU proposal to the Riksdag, you are welcome to contact the Committee on EU Affairs. You can also find out which members of the Riksdag in the various parties are working with the matter you wish to have a say on. Contact them and put forward your opinion.
In the EU, it is the Government that represents Sweden and is involved in adopting EU legislation. Usually, the European Parliament is also involved in the decision-making process. If you wish to put forward your opinions to the European Parliament you can, for example, contact the Swedish MEPs. Find out which MEPs are working with the matter you wish to influence and contact them. In this way, you can get them to bring attention to issues that you consider important.
Anyone who lives in an EU member state can, as a member of the public or through an organisation, a party or a company, submit proposals on which they think the EU should do, at any time. By means of a citizens' initiative, individuals or groups can urge the Commission to present a legislative proposal on a specific matter.
With a citizens' initiative you can, together with other EU citizens, influence the European Commission, the EU institution responsible for proposing new EU legislation, to draw up new legislative proposals. To start an initiative, you need at least seven people from seven different member states. Once the initiative has been registered, you need at least one million signatures for the Commission to consider examining the proposal. The Commission does not need to examine all proposals – it chooses itself whether to proceed with a proposal.
Citizens’ initiatives on the European Commission website
A proposal that was positively received by the Commission was the proposal Water – a human right, or Right2Water, which had the objective that all EU citizens should have access and the right to clean water and sanitation services. The initiative was started in 2013 by representatives of trade unions in the public sector, with the support of the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), an umbrella organisation for such trade unions across the EU. After collecting over 1.8 million signatures, the initiative was submitted to the European Commission.
The European Commission was positive to the initiative and decided to hold a public hearing with representatives of the initiative. The Commission then announced various proposals for measures based on the proposal, and drew up an action plan for an overview of existing EU regulations on water and sanitation services. Since then, the European Parliament has voted in favour of a follow-up of the initiative and has continued to work with issues that were highlighted.
Everyone living in an EU member state was able to participate in the Conference on the Future of Europe, which was concluded in the spring of 2022. During the Conference, EU citizens had the opportunity to share their ideas and participate in or arrange various events. The idea was that citizens of all EU member states would have the opportunity to give their views on the future of the EU within a number of subject areas, such as climate and environment, digital transition, democracy and migration.
The Conference on the Future of Europe was also known as the Future Conference. The hub was a digital platform in Swedish and other languages, where all EU citizens could create a login. Via this platform, EU citizens were able to make contacts, share ideas and proposals, organise events or participate in events arranged, for example, by national, regional or local public agencies and organisations.
Digital platform for the Conference on the Future of Europe
During the Conference, European citizens’ panels were organised to draw up proposals on various subjects. In addition, plenaries – large meetings – were held with, for example, representatives of the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the member states’ national parliaments, parties to the labour market and civil society.
The Conference, which was launched in May 2021 and continued for a year, was conducted under the leadership of the EU's three legislative institutions: the Commission, the Parliament and the Council. In May 2022, a report containing conclusions which are to show the way for continued EU activities was presented.
The conclusions are to influence the future of the EU.
