Seven Member States in the European Union want to support the lifting of sanctions imposed by the West on Russia. Austria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Hungary and Slovakia are reportedly in agreement on the matter.

Ukraine's outlook for 2015 is grim. The military conflict between the government and pro-Russia separatist rebels has had a devastating impact on the country and a resolution seems far off. Since the onset of the conflict the economy has entered into a downward spiral as it has faced sharp contractions in economic activity coupled with skyrocketing inflation. Serious damage has been inflicted to Ukraine's industrial heartland in the east of the country. Luhansk and Donetsk normally account for 16% of Ukraine's GDP, supply 95% of its coal and produce a big chunck of exports.

Extract of Article written by Bart van Ark is executive vice president, chief economist, and chief strategy officer of The Conference Board, as well as a professor of economic development, technological change, and growth at the University of Groningen.

Greece owes a total of 307 billion euros (or 177% of its GDP) broken down as follows:

There is eldeom much advantage to be gained by those in government in talking frankly about those who petition them. The enormous diversity of experience, the broad range of issues, and the inherent uniqueness of so many situations often makes it difficult to articulate relevant generalities.

But there are some common complaints and observations by elected and non-elected officials that can enumerated: They include:

Public policy advocacy is about the approach; strategies and tactics employed by external interests to influence decisions of government, including the adoption, modification or rejection of specific policy options. A public policy advocate is usually concerned with how the idea or measure created by clients, employers, or colleagues might be most effectively promoted, advanced or sold to policy advisors and decision-makers in government.

The media often deals with the question of whether lobbying is acceptable or whether the lobby influence is too big and needs to be tackled by politicians. Many articles on the subject of lobbying in Brussels express the perception that it is the lobbyists who hold the real reins of power in Brussels, and that they exert undue influence over the institutions (dangerous liaisons between the EU institutions and industry). This perception of lobbying in Brussels as somehow controlling the European policy agenda is a perception that sadly is extremely widespread.

Five Pillars

First of all, we cannot continue to distinguish the 'good' lobbies of the public sector from the 'bad' lobbies in the private sector.

Secondly, today, much of the lobbying that affects Member States happens in Brussels. As a result interest groups need to have people both at home and in Brussels.

Thirdly, EU Member States have problems with their lobbying profession regardless of their political systems, languages, cultures and lobbying histories.

Paris will only be successful if governments have done their homework in advance of the meeting. The new agreement must be built on ambitious national action and it must accelerate the paradigm shift to a renewable energy future.