The words ‘Institutional and Government Relations’ are  increasingly being used in the field of public policy advocacy. Basically it refers to ‘Relationship Management’ on behalf of a client (Consultant), Company/Organization (in-house) for the purpose of raising the public image with legislators, institutional representatives and the media.

Major functions and tasks may include:

A new European Commission, a new European Parliament means an entirely different set of rules, players, and a dramatically altered landscape for Public Policy Advocates . Today, the number of organizations vying for the EU attention has increased exponentially which means that getting your Public Policy Advocacy message to the right person, at the right time, has never been so critical - or so challenging. Transparency, accountability and a shift in decision making powers continue to increase the complicated juggling act that Public Policy Advocacy staff are expected to perform.

Each Commissioner is first nominated by their member state in consultation with the Commission President, although the President holds little practical power to force a change in candidate. The more capable the candidate is, the more likely the Commission President will assign them a powerful portfolio, the distribution of which is entirely at his discretion. The President's team is then subject to hearings at the European Parliament which will question them and then vote on their suitability as a whole.

Here below are the European Parliament Delegations for Relations with 10 major countries. For each country, is displayed their total number of Members in their respective houses (some countries are unicameral, others are bicameral). Next is displayed the number of MEPs appointed as members of the EP delegation for relations with that particular country, also expressed as a percentage of the total 751 MEPs in the European Parliament.

China: National People’s Congress 2987 Members (2013) EP Delegation for Relations with China: 37 MEPs (4.9% of the EP)