In its ‘Convention Europe April 2013’, the French Socialist Party advocates a European Regulatory Framework for all lobbies and the organisation of private interest groups, which they argue are based on money and influence, leaving consumer groups, communities and citizens often defenceless. “European institutions must be politically exemplary regarding transparency and independence. It is necessary to mobilize the institutions and citizens’ energies to create efficient counter powers and to take into consideration counter-expertise (second opinions).”

The meaning of Advocacy varies greatly across Europe. These diverse interpretations can be explained in part by the various cultural, political, social, economic and legal contexts that make up Europe. Yet, there is some common meaning and vocabulary to define the scope of activities which are undertaken and supported in the name of Advocacy.

The President of the French National Assembly Mr. Claude Bartolome is calling for a political confrontation with Germany to reject austerity. It should be mentioned that indeed François Hollande may have campaigned on policies to end austerity and return to fiscal stimulus, but once he was elected and the French parliamentary election was over, he actually reverted back and pushed through an austerity budget in France with the consolidation of about € 30 billion. And he also pushed through the fiscal compact, which was, of course, very much Chancellor Merkel's idea.

There are two very good reasons to do the speaking circuit for high profile personalities from the world of politics and the media: One is money and the other is exposure. Depending on the circumstances, it could be argued that either of those two incentives is more important than the other.