THE ROLE OF AN EU POLICY ADVISOR

The main purpose of the job of EU Policy Advisor is to take the lead in developing and advising on the European dimension of a wide and varied range of subjects within his/her field. This is a challenging role because the EU Policy Advisor has to take responsibility for giving expert analysis and strategic policy advice. It also includes designing and implementing an effective public policy advocacy strategy to influence key policymakers at EU level.

A high degree of initiative is required to proactively identifying issues in the advisor’s area of responsibility and offering advice on how to ensure the interests of the organization he/she is working with.

The work of an EU Policy Advisor involves considerable external liaison at a senior level and participation in negotiations with key stakeholders. The EU Policy Advisor maintains and develops contacts with strategic partners, whether internal (such as policy advisors, or specialist committees) or external contacts such as MEPs and Commission officials. The EU Policy Advisor’s role also involves frequent external public representation on behalf of his/her organization.

Knowledge, skills an experience

• Substantial knowledge of EU law, policymaking and procedures especially in the European internal market field.
• Significant work experience in the field of EU policy e.g. an institution, private practice, or public policy work.
• Ability to analyze and understand the policy implications of EU institutions and legislative proposals.
• Ability to research and prepare policy papers and to explain complex issues clearly and concisely.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, including tact and diplomacy, in dealing with a wide range of individuals and building good networks of contacts.
• Ability to work independently and under pressure to tight deadlines. Good personal organizational skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Fluency and knowledge of EU languages.

Case Study: Confederation of British Industry (CBI)

Based at its London Centre Point or Brussels offices, the CBI policy directorates are responsible for developing and ‘lobbying’ on the CBI policy position on a range of policy areas. The Policy Advisor reports to the Head of Group and works alongside and supporting teams of policy professionals, up to Director level. He/she engages with senior business leaders to develop CBI policy, build relations with Government officials and politicians in Westminster and Brussels, as well as communicates CBI members’ views to a wide range of external audiences on public platforms and through the media. Admittedly the CBI undertakes both an ‘influencing role’ and an ‘advisory role’ and it can be taking either role at any time in bilateral meetings. It is not possible to distinguish between the influencing and advisory roles when CBI’s officials are meeting with government.

If being ‘responsible for developing and lobbying on the CBI policy position on a range of policy areas’; or ‘building relations with Government officials and politicians in Westminster and Brussels’ doesn’t make one a lobbyist, then for certain AALEP encourages EU Policy Advisors to join our association of Accredited Public Policy Advocates to the European Union because in our view EU Policy Advisors are Experts in analysis and strategic policy advice which is the core of Public Policy Advocacy's work.

United States of America

In the United States, former lobbyists "continue influencing policy from ‘behind the scenes.’ Much of the decline in lobbying activity is not a decline at all, but rather the side effect of lobbyists and lobbying firms taking advantage of a feature of the law which allows them to continue influencing policy from ‘behind the scenes.  Under the law, there is a distinction between 'lobbying contacts' which only lobbyists can do, and 'lobbying activities' which can be done by both lobbyists and non-lobbyists. The law does not apply to sitting down and strategizing about how to win a battle in Congress. Furthermore, the lobbying law applies only to those who spend more than 20% of their professional time making contacts. By working as policy advisors and in other 'non-lobbyist' positions, former lobbyists can keep their current jobs but escape the consequences of being a registered lobbyist.