If you want to influence EU decisions, contacting your MEP is a good place to start. This guide explains how to do it, what to write, and how to have the most impact.
What is an MEP?
EU citizens are represented in the European Parliament by elected Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), who debate, amend and vote on EU laws. These laws shape major areas such as climate policy, transport and energy across the EU.
MEPs are grouped by political affinity, not by nationality. Their time is divided between their constituencies, Strasbourg, where plenary sittings are held, and Brussels, where they attend additional plenary sittings, committee and political group meetings.
Why should you write to your MEP?
MEPs rely heavily on input from civil society to shape their positions. Much of their decision-making is influenced by:
- Briefings, reports from NGOs and industries
- National or regional concerns
- Written input from citizens
In practice, much of the “signal” they receive about public opinion comes through emails, messages, events from citizens, civil society organisations, and industries.
This means your voice is not symbolic, it is part of the political input MEPs and their teams actively monitor when forming positions.
How to find your MEP and contact them?
You can find your MEPs using the European Parliament website. Simply:
- Search for your country
- Open your MEP’s profile page, where you can see the political group, they are affiliated to, and the Committees they are part of
- Use the listed contact details
Is it better to email, call, or write a letter to your MEP?
Email is usually the most effective way to contact an MEP on policy issues. It lets you clearly explain your message, include specific requests or links, and gives staff time to review and record your views.
Phone calls are less commonly used for policy input and are harder to track, so written communication is generally preferred.
You can also send a postal letter. These can stand out more, but take longer to arrive and be processed.
While MEPs are mostly working from Brussels, you may also reach out to their local national office/local assistants. You may especially identify the “External parliamentary weeks” (also called “green weeks”) on the European Parliament’s calendar, during which MEPs are back to their countries to engage with local actors and citizens, or undertake foreign visits.
What should you write to your MEP?
MEPs and their teams receive large volumes of messages every day. The goal is not to impress with length, but to make it easy for them to understand your position and why it matters.
The most effective messages tend to:
- Be clear and focused on one issue
- Include a specific request (e.g. “support X policy” or “vote for X proposal”)
- Explain why the issue matters to you personally or locally
What is less effective:
- Vague calls like “do more on climate change”
- Overly long arguments
When is it best to contact your MEP?
You can contact your MEP at any time, but your message is especially influential when EU legislation is actively being debated or updated.
To know this, you can do the following:
- Track EU legislative developments using the European Parliament’s Legislative Observatory (OEIL), which follows each law as it moves through the system.
- See what is being debated in Parliament using the plenary agenda.
- Check for upcoming proposals and consultations on the Commission’s Have your say page.
- Follow civil society organisations who sometimes share summaries of key developments.
- Check European Parliament’s website What Europe does for me to discover what the EU is doing in your Member State, especially in your region.
Other ways you can make your voice heard
Writing to your MEP is one of the most direct ways to influence EU decision-making. But you can also strengthen your impact by taking a few additional steps:
1. Raise it with your national representatives
EU policy is shaped both in Brussels and in Member States. You can also contact your national MPs or government representatives to encourage them to support stronger action on the subject you care about.
2. Share it on social media
Posting about the issue you care about on social media helps widen awareness beyond Brussels. Policymakers are more likely to act when they see sustained public attention. Most MEPs will have their social media details on their MEP profile page; you can tag them to attract their attention.
3. Put forward a citizen’s initiative
If you have concrete ideas to improve the EU, the European Citizens’ Initiative is a tool that allows people to ask the European Commission to propose legislation or other measures in areas within its remit.
4. Submit or support a petition
One of the fundamental rights of European citizens is their right to petition the European Parliament. Visit the petitions website to find out more about your rights, as well as how to submit a petition and how to support a petition.
5. Get you voice heard on EU climate policy
If you are an EU citizen interested in climate policy, it can be impactful to contact an MEP who is actively working on the issue you care about, either through a relevant Committee or political group.
It can also be effective to give support to civil society organisations working on EU climate policy, as they help provide evidence, policy briefings and coordination that strengthen overall advocacy efforts.
6. Talk about it locally
MEPs are highly responsive to issues that feel politically visible in their Member State or region. Conversations in workplaces, universities and communities all contribute to making the issue harder to ignore.
