Lobbying in the countyries of the former Yugoslavia is a relatively new phenomenon, but it has been growing constantly over the last decade. However, most of the population and decision-makers have a very unclear idea of what lobbying actually is.

In all countries of the former Yugoslavia, lobbyists attempt to get an official recognition that lobbying is a unique profession.

The EU Commission has intensified its dialogue on the rule of law with candidate and potential candidate countries. In the reports on these countries, the fight against corruption has been highlighted. The aim of the dialogue on the rule of law is to strengthen benchmarking aimed at enhanced transparency at earlier stages of the accession process as well as building capacities and establishing effective tools in fighting corruption in respective countries.

The definition of Public Policy Advocacy and Public Policy Advocates is a complex issue. From our perspective, the definition should be simple and capture the widest possible range of public policy advocacy activities: A Public Policy Advocate is anyone paid to (i) arrange or facilitate contact with officials; (ii) communicate with officials to influence legislation, regulation, or government policy, and for government contracts and grants; and (iii) work in support of (i) and/or (ii).

For getting the European Union back on track, the decision-making role of member states' governments should be recognized as a fundamental condition for the existence and the functioning of the EU. It is not accidental that the European Council has emerged as the main decision-making of the EU and its president as a more influential actor than the Commission's president. One can assume that, there being no prohibitions in this respect in the Lisbon Treaty, the future evolution of the EU will eventually lead to a re-composition of the two presidencies in a single person.