EU PUBLIC DIPLOMACY IN THE U.S.

On 25 July 2016, the European Union represented by the European Commission, Delegation of the European Union to the United States awarded a 36 month contract worth 2 999 246,37 EUR for EU Policy and Outreach Partnership  in the United States to Business and Strategies Europe S.A, a consultancy based in Brussels a member of the GOPA Consulting Group with headquarters in Bad Homburg, Bonn and Brussels. The consortium led by B&S Europe includes: The Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) (UK), World Affairs Council of America (USA), International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) (USA) GOPACom, CSIS (Center for International and Strategy Studies) (USA). It is interesting to note that B&S Europe does not have any North American Department nor does it have a presence in the United States.

Key people at Chatham House in the US include: Xenia Wickett (ed.), Head, US and the Americas Programme, Chatham House; Dean, Queen Elizabeth II Academy for Leadership in International Affairs; Julianne Smith, Associate Fellow, US and the Americas Programme, Chatham House; Dr Jacob Parakilas, Assistant Head, US and the Americas Programme, Chatham House.

World Affairs Council of America: Member councils can be found in 40 U.S. states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

The following entities were shortlisted

1. IFOA (Italy), Altair Asesores S.I (Spain), CESO CI International S.A (Portugal), Working in Support of Education (USA) • DAI Europe Ltd (UK), Development Alternatives Inc (USA), Inno TSD (France), Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luftund Raumfahrt e.V (Germany)
2. B&S Europe (Belgium), The Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) (UK), World Affairs Council of America (USA), International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) (USA) GOPACom, CSIS (Center for International and Strategy Studies)
3. AGRER S.A (Belgium), The Herald Group (USA), Public Policy and Management (Lithuania)
4. AECOM International Development Europe SL (Spain), Public Strategies Washington, Inc., (USA)
5. APCO Worldwide (USA)
6. The British Council (UK), German Marshall Fund of the United States GMF (USA), Center on Public Diplomacy at the University of Southern California (USA)
7. Blue Star Strategies (USA),Glover Park Group LLC (USA)

Individual Entities

1. IFOA (Italy)
2. Altair Asesores S.I. (Spain)
3. CESO CI International S.A. (Portugal)
4. Working in Support of Education (USA)
5. DAI Europe Ltd. (UK)
6. Development Alternatives Inc. (USA)
7. Inno TSD (France)
8. Deutsches Zentrum für Luft und Raumfahrt e.V. (Germany)
9. B&S Europe (Belgium)
10. The Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) (UK)
11. World Affairs Council of America (USA)
12. International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) (USA)
13. AGRER S.A. (Belgium)
14. The Herald Group (USA)
15. Public Policy and Management (Lithuania)
16. AECOM International Development Europe SL (Spain)
17. Public Strategies Washington, Inc. (USA)
18. APCO Worldwide (USA)
19. The British Council (UK)
20. German Marshall Fund of the United States GMF (USA)
21. Center on Public Diplomacy at the University of Southern California (USA)
22. Blue Star Strategies (USA)
23. Glover Park Group LLC (USA)

The overall objective of the project is to support the achievement of the EU’s policy objectives through strategic public diplomacy activities in the United States that engage meaningfully with targeted audiences and stakeholders.

The purpose of this contract are as follows:

1. To increase understanding of the EU project, of its principles, and of European Union policies of common interest among stakeholders and target audiences in the United States, in particular the European Commission’s ten priorities for 2014-2020 and the EU’s foreign policy priorities.
2. To increase the visibility of the European Union (both its institutions and Member States) as a trusted, capable, confident, and successful actor by emphasizing the EU’s values, quality of life, creativity and industrial strength.
3. To integrate and amplify the impact of ongoing and future EU and Member State public diplomacy activity in the United States through coordination with Member State Embassies, Consular Networks, and Cultural Institutes.
4. To successfully engage, mobilise, and build trust with influential U.S. stakeholders and target audiences (future leaders, opinion-makers/influencers, and others) including the new Administration and Congress taking office from 2018 around the European Union’s policy priorities.

Results to be achieved by the Contractor

1. The delivery of geographically and thematically diverse public diplomacy interventions that explicitly and measurably contribute to the achievement of the overall objective and specific purposes of the contract and that also reflect or respond to the interests of local populations and stakeholders.
2. The provision of high-quality policy research and expertise in support of the EU’s policy and public diplomacy objectives in the United States.
3. The provision of abroad range of strategic communications services to the EU Delegation in support of its public diplomacy activities in the United States.
4. The integration of events, policy and communications support provided to the EU Delegation to achieve the overall objective and specific purposes of the contract.
5. The development and dissemination of positive and coherent messaging around EU policies to relevant stakeholders in the United States.
6. The expansion of the existing broad network of partnerships between the European Union and relevant organisations and institutions around the United States to support the EU-US policy agenda.