From November 2-3, women’s rights activists from all over the Western Balkans gathered in Brussels to enhance their advocacy skills at the EU level. While many of the women have been involved in advocacy and lobbying for many years, the training aimed at specifically enhancing their advocacy and lobbying towards the European Union. 
   The trainer, Constanza de Toma, was a former lobbyist for reproductive and sexual rights in the EU, as well as the assistant of a former Member of the European Parliament. Her experience was very crucial as she was an expert on both sides: on the inside and on the outside of the EU. 
   “EU lobbying is quite different from other forms of advocacy. You have to know how to approach your targets, learn to speak their language of “Eurospeak,” and know exactly when and to whom to raise your issues," said training facilitator Constanza de Toma. 
   The first day included information on what the European Union is, what it does, and how it is set up. Further information was provided on the main institutions comprising the EU, and what their work, responsibilities, and competences entail. Participants delved into discussing EU acquis and what that means for women’s rights. A critical assessment of EU’s gender perspective was also part of the discussion. 
De Toma also discussed and critically evaluated the legislative procedures of EU, through which legislation is made, ratified, and implemented. Participants discussed when and how a gender perspective can be integrated in this process. 
Day 2, on the other hand, focused more on strengthening advocacy. The training focused on the advocacy cycle of rights. Developing a “Theory of Change” was a crucial part of this training. 
Some of the most important “How to Lobby at the EU” information included the following advice: 

Preparing for a lobby meeting

• Be clear on what you want to get out of the meeting; provide 3 – 4 clear and specific objectives
• Prepare before meeting, including deciding how you will appeal to the decision makers and respond to their counter arguments
• Think about your targets as individuals, get to know what makes them tick, and tailor your arguments accordingly – this may entail appealing to them on different levels, e.g. rationality, sympathy/feeling, moral identity, enlightened self-interest, benefits to their institution/personal stature
• If appropriate, prepare a one page note outlining your key messages and advocacy objectives to leave at the end of the meeting. You may want to consider translating materials into other key EU languages to have broader reach with MEPs and across member states

• Think about dress-code – while this is culturally/politically specific, particularly at the EP, the basic rule is to dress appropriately so you feel comfortable and the decision maker will take you seriously
• Never be late and allow sufficient time for security clearance before the meeting when necessary
• Meet beforehand with your delegation to decide who will lead the meeting, your key points, tactics and who will say what, and who will keep minutes
• Ensure your leader starts and ends by thanking the decision maker for his/her time, help keep the meeting  to time, do introductions, recap agenda, agree whether comments and minutes are on or off the record, confidential etc.
• At the start of the meeting ensure that someone is allocated the task of summing up and agreeing next steps, and that they do this once the meeting is drawing to close
• Make 3-4 key concise and specific points, avoid long list of demands
• Ensure you make clear and realistic proposals, not just criticisms
• Use reasoned, evidence based arguments, rather than emotive or subjective language
• Be assertive – neither overly deferential nor lecturing, aggressive or insulting
• Be objective and calm, but persistent
• Establish a dialogue; do not dominate the meeting yourself, but try not to allow your target to dominate either
• Listen, ask questions, make suggestions to engage your target and build trust
• Show respect for other people’s points of views, even when you disagree with them
• Be sensitive to a change of mood on their part (agreement, anger, boredom) and change tack accordingly
• Know when to stop, learn to judge how far you can push a particular argument and when it’s time to movie on
• Criticize bad policies but don’t launch personalized attacks on decision makers

• Have a de-briefing with your delegation
• Always follow up with a letter thanking the decision maker for the meeting and noting points of agreement and next steps.