Fern was born with the idea of not just campaigning, but also guiding other NGOs to understand and get involved in campaigning at the EU level. We were keen not to speak on behalf of other organisations, but to open space for other organisations to raise their own voices.
 


Working with the European Union (EU) is in our organisation’s DNA.

At a meeting of the Forest Movement Europe in the early 1990s, participants noted the lack of NGOs monitoring how EU policies impact forests. There was also a lot of confusion about how to navigate the often-labyrinthine world of EU policymaking. It was agreed that an organisation like Fern was needed to inform NGOs about EU forest policy developments.

Developing deep EU policy expertise is therefore at the heart of our mission.
 

Working with the European Commission

Fern initially focussed on the European Commission because it is the only EU institution with the power to propose new laws (“legislative initiative”). We assumed it is most effective to raise awareness when regulations are being developed, rather than when legislators already have a position on a proposal.

Fern has a quarter century of experience of organising dialogues with different Directorates General (DG) of the Commission, the equivalent of ministries/departments of national governments. We focus on those that are instrumental for protecting Europe’s and global forests: DG DEVCO (International Collaboration and Development Aid), CLIMA (Climate), ENVI (Environment), Trade and Agriculture.

 

Working with other EU institutions

Fern works closely with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), who, together with the Council of the European Union, have the power to adopt and amend legislation. We work with all political groups, except the far right.

Fern also regularly meets with EU Member States’ permanent Brussels representations, whose role is to promote national interests. The civil servants working as “Perm Reps” help inform and define their governments’ positions on Commission legislative proposals.

Sometimes Fern works directly with national ministries and departments, although we always aim to do this with or through national NGOs.

Building bridges between civil society and EU institutions

Our campaigners are in daily contact with the EU institutions, through emails, calls and meetings. Fern has also organised countless events where participants are able to hear from and directly question EU decision makers.

Fern was born with the idea of not just campaigning, but also guiding other NGOs to understand and get involved in campaigning at the EU level. We were keen not to speak on behalf of other organisations, but to open space for other organisations to raise their own voices. For this reason, we also organise policy tours in which partners from Member States or forests countries come to Brussels to meet directly with EU policy makers, so those in power can hear their stories and devise solutions in tandem with those that are directly affected.

 

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