Authors: Alberto Pera and Francesco Salerno (Gianno, Origoni, Grippo, Capelli & Partners)

Authors: Marcos Joaquim Gonçalves Alves, Fernanda Burle, Leandro modesto Coimbra, Barbara Rodrigues Lima Teles and Bruna da Cunha Costa Cardoso (MJ Alves e Burle Advogados e Consultores Advocacy, Brasil.

1. Constitution: What is the basic source of law? What is the scope of, and limitations on government power relevant to the regulation of lobbying and government relations.
2. Legislative system: Legislative system as it relates to lobbying
3. National subdivisions: Extent to which legislative or rule-making authority relevant to lobbying practice also exists at regional, provincial or municipal level.

Lobbying is different everywhere. Each country has a distinct interest group system. That is not to say that lobbying techniques and tactics are not similar in most locations, for they are. In every interest group community to greater or lesser extents and to greater or lesser degrees of effectiveness lobbyists talk directly to policy-makers, join coalitions, stimulate grassroots efforts, undertake policy research and frame policy issues, use the media to advance issues, and so on. These activities, if not entirely universal, are quite common.

Political Consultants appear in Brussels in two forms. They are either rather large consultancy firms- partially purely Governmental Affairs firms, but often par of a law firm or media/PR consultancies, or they are individuals who cover a very specialized area on their own.  A distinction must be made between those that purely cover governmental affairs and those that offer political advice amongst other services.

Consultancy firms offer services in four categories.

Source: Best in Brussels.eu

GBP £ millions-2017 (Goods & Services)

UK Exports

Author: Alexander Mercouris, Political Commentator and Editor of The Duran.

Source: Peter BarnesSenior elections and political analyst, BBC News

No-deal Brexit on 31 October

Source: EC Spring 2019 Forecast