How to contact a MEP : Différence entre versions

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You want to contact your Members of the European Parliament (MEP) and make your voices heard, for example about the [https://www.laquadrature.net/en/Privacy data protection regulation], or the [https://www.laquadrature.net/en/elements-for-the-reform-of-copyright-and-related-cultural-policies reform of copyright]: great!
 
You want to contact your Members of the European Parliament (MEP) and make your voices heard, for example about the [https://www.laquadrature.net/en/Privacy data protection regulation], or the [https://www.laquadrature.net/en/elements-for-the-reform-of-copyright-and-related-cultural-policies reform of copyright]: great!
  
Contacting our Elected Representatives is a very useful thing everybody can do, and you have the choice of several options. The contact information for all the Members of the European Parliament can be found on [https://memopol.lqdn.fr/ Memopol] (email, telephone, address... with general informations about the MEP).
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Contacting our Elected Representatives is a very useful thing everybody can do, and you have the choice of several options. The contact information for all the Members of the European Parliament can be found on [https://memopol.lqdn.fr/ Memopol] (email, telephone, address... with general information about the MEP).
  
 
=== Phone Call ===
 
=== Phone Call ===
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===== Generally, conversations look like that: =====
 
===== Generally, conversations look like that: =====
* YOU: Hello, I'm [YourName], I'm an European citizen calling from [YourCountry], and I would like to talk to Mrs/Mr MEP, please.
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''* YOU: Hello, I'm [YourName], I'm an European citizen calling from [YourCountry], and I would like to talk to Mrs/Mr MEP, please.
 
* ASSISTANT: Mrs/Mr MEP is not available, I am her/his assistant. Can I help you?
 
* ASSISTANT: Mrs/Mr MEP is not available, I am her/his assistant. Can I help you?
 
* YOU: It would be a vote on [data protection] next week as far as I understand, and I want to know if Mrs/Mr MEP is going to vote against the weakening of the protection of EU citizens' privacy.
 
* YOU: It would be a vote on [data protection] next week as far as I understand, and I want to know if Mrs/Mr MEP is going to vote against the weakening of the protection of EU citizens' privacy.
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* YOU: A lot of studies demonstrate that even if a personal data might seem anonymous, reidentification of the data subject becomes possible when the data is paired with other existing data. It's really an important issue.
 
* YOU: A lot of studies demonstrate that even if a personal data might seem anonymous, reidentification of the data subject becomes possible when the data is paired with other existing data. It's really an important issue.
 
* ASSISTANT: "Ok, I'll speak with Mrs/Mr MEP about it."  
 
* ASSISTANT: "Ok, I'll speak with Mrs/Mr MEP about it."  
* YOU: "Thank you very much for listening to me. If you wish, I can send you reference documents. I'll call you again shortly to know what he/she thought. Have a good day."
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* YOU: "Thank you very much for listening to me. If you wish, I can send you reference documents. I'll call you again shortly to know what he/she thought. Have a good day."''
  
 
===== General advice =====
 
===== General advice =====

Version du 15 mars 2013 à 19:39

You want to contact your Members of the European Parliament (MEP) and make your voices heard, for example about the data protection regulation, or the reform of copyright: great!

Contacting our Elected Representatives is a very useful thing everybody can do, and you have the choice of several options. The contact information for all the Members of the European Parliament can be found on Memopol (email, telephone, address... with general information about the MEP).

Phone Call

The best way to carry your message to a MEP is to develop your argument verbally. In this way, you can adapt your speech to her/his answers, and express your great concern about the subject on which you are calling. MEPs do not receive many calls from citizens, then they are particularly sensitive to it.

To easily get in touch with the right MEPs during La Quadrature's campaigns, you can use our PiPhone. This tool will connected you to a Elected Representatives free of charge. If you enter your country, you will be connected to an MEP speaking your language.

In a first time, you can look this video of a call about ACTA, to give you an idea of how such a conversation may go.

Generally, conversations look like that:

* YOU: Hello, I'm [YourName], I'm an European citizen calling from [YourCountry], and I would like to talk to Mrs/Mr MEP, please.

  • ASSISTANT: Mrs/Mr MEP is not available, I am her/his assistant. Can I help you?
  • YOU: It would be a vote on [data protection] next week as far as I understand, and I want to know if Mrs/Mr MEP is going to vote against the weakening of the protection of EU citizens' privacy.
  • ASSISTANT: I see. We had calls before. I have no time.
  • YOU: But it is very important! Concepts such “pseudonymous” data would be used as a derogation to safeguards by corporations that collect, process and trade our personal data.
  • ASSISTANT: Don't worry. The text is not as bad as you've heard, everything will be fine.
  • YOU: A lot of studies demonstrate that even if a personal data might seem anonymous, reidentification of the data subject becomes possible when the data is paired with other existing data. It's really an important issue.
  • ASSISTANT: "Ok, I'll speak with Mrs/Mr MEP about it."
  • YOU: "Thank you very much for listening to me. If you wish, I can send you reference documents. I'll call you again shortly to know what he/she thought. Have a good day."
General advice
  • Before calling, learn more about the issue by reading our key documents.
  • During your calls, stay polite and be yourself. Whatever happens, don't forget the basic rules of courtesy and common sense. Whether you agree or disagree with the individual answering the line, and whatever the views of other members of her/his political group, don't give a negative image of people who are advocating with the same purpose as you.
  • Generally, you will speak most of the time to a Parliamentary assistant, and not directly with a MEP. It's not a problem: engage the conversation. Assistants play an important role in the development of the MEPs' positions.
  • If a question to which you don't have the answer comes up, don't panic. You are not expected to be an expert, only a concerned citizen. Tell the MEP you will research the answer and call back with more information, and come and ask us.
  • If you're still not comfortable with the arguments, don't give up. Ask what is the MEP's position on the subject, and ask what are their arguments.
  • In general, don't hesitate to offer to call back with more information, to meet the MEP, to send documents, references, etc.
  • Sometimes, Parliamentary assistants will ask you to send an e-mail. Don't hesitate to call back later to check if they've read it and what they thought of it.

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