The EABC's (European Australian Business Council) 2014 Australian Business Mission to Europe will visit Warsaw, Brussels and Madrid (29 June-4 July).

EABC's Business Missions are strongly supported by the Australian Government and European Unon as an important activity to strengthen bi-lateral co-operation on public and economic policy developmentys affecting issues between Australia and Europe as its lagest economic partner.

Each MEP is also allocated a budget for the employment of staff to assist in the work of the office. The salary levels and terms of employment of staff are set out in regulations laid down by the European Parliament. While some MEPs prefer to hire two well-paid real policy assistants, others prefer to have more secretarial/office management types, whilst others use a combination of both. They can be based in Brussels, in the MEP’s constituency or in the MEP’s national capital. MEPs can have at most 3 Accredited Assistants and 2 Local Assistants.

From 1 thru 3 July 2014 will take place the Constitutive plenary session of the new European Parliament (EP). Expected appointments of President, Vice-Presidents, Quaestors and compositio of Committees.

From 7 thru 10 July 2014: Election of the EP Committee Chairs and Vice-Chairs

From 14 thru 17 July: EP Plenary session- expected election of the President of the European Commission (Mr. Juncker)

1. Lobbyists should be better trained in economic intelligence tools

The ability to manage information is becoming essential, both from the point of view of storing it efficiently and capitalising on it, and in terms of disseminating it to relevant targets. Lobbyists need to be able to cross-reference information with other data from inside and outside the business and make the switch from “static information” to “dynamic, competitive information”. This is a major challenge for lobbyists, even more than it was in the past.