Crit­ics argue that the lack of trans­par­ency, exacer­bated by the influ­ence of lob­by­ists, hinders the demo­cratic legit­im­acy of law-making. How­ever, such a pre-judgment is based on exag­ger­ated assump­tions and there­fore, draws false con­clu­sions on the influ­ence and power of lobbyists. While lobbyists maybe not held in the highest regard by the public, nevertheless they often provide invaluable and entirely legitimate services to policymakers.

The Anti-Corruption pakage includes the following laws

1. Setting the Legal and Policy Framework

As a first step, policymakers need to assess whether they have the right types of government policies, strategies, and a legal and regulatory framework in place to both attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and ensure that any such investments are sustainable and beneficial to the country.

Government Policies and Strategies: Assess, Formulate and Reform

Much of what a Policy Analyst does is essentially policy work. Duties  include the activities associated with policy development i.e. research, analysis, consultation and synthesis of information to produce recommendations. It also involves an evaluation of options against a set of criteria used to assess each option.

An effective policy process is one that is generally characterized by the following five attributes: 1. Issue Identification; 2. Issue Analysis; 3. Generating Solutions; 4. Consultation; and 5. Performance Monitoring.

Ukraine should focus its work in 2015 on:

Robert Legvold, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Political Science and the Harriman Institute of Columbia University: The two countries start from a very low point, and there is no chance they will soon change the underlying character of the relationship that is, a deep mistrust of the other side, profound differences over key issues, such as Ukraine, and a tendency to focus on limitations rather than opportunities. But the recent Sochi meeting may open the way for both sides to take a different approach to the relationship.

1. Austria: The step taken by Russia goes against all the principles of Georgian sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, which Russia has repeatedly accepted in the UN Security Council.
2. Belgium: The recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia is unacceptable and a violation of the territorial integrity of Georgia. Russia has created a dangerous precedent that threatens the stability of Europe.

A Political Foundation at European level (PFEL) is defined as an entity or network of entities which has legal personality in a Member State, is affiliated with a political party at European level, and which through its activities, within the aims and fundamental values pursued by the European Union, underpins and complements the objectives of the political party at European level.  The most important entity with which a PFEL cooperates and has relations is clearly the affiliated political party at European level.

In order to receive a grant from the Parliament, a party must satisfy certain conditions:

The presidency of the Council rotates among the EU Member States every 6 months. During this 6-month period, the presidency chairs meetings at every level in the Council, helping to ensure the continuity of the EU's work in the Council.