As an invitation letter to a civil society agora organised by the European Parliament states: “It is not enough to tell people that Europe is being built for them - Europe needs to be built with them”. But it also recognised this is a very difficult task with half a billion citizens and distant, confusing institutions.

At the moment the best ways to influence European policies are as follows:

1. Know your target

2. Work through your NGO platform

3. Engage in dialogue early