In the face of brutal Jihadist terror, we need more Europe and not less. We need more Europe in coordinating anti-terrorism policies. We need more Europe to strengthen cooperation among national intelligence services and to reinforce control of our external borders. We need more Europe through an effective PNR mechanism that goes hand in hand with right to data protection. We need more Europe in allowing member states the flexibility to have extra spending on counter-terrorism exempted from EU fiscal rules.

Written by Lee Drutman and Steve Teles. Lee Drutman is a senior fellow in the New America political reform program and author of the The Business of America Is Lobbying.

Major companies in the field of lobbying and political consulting services are divisions of global advertising and communications giants such as WWP, Omnicom, Interpublic as well as independent firms such as Blue Focus (China), Brunswick Group (UK) and Edelman (US).

1. Vice President for Government Relations

BARRIERS

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Political Context

• Who are the policymakers?
• Is there policymaker demand for new ideas?
• What are the sources/strengths of resistance?
• What is the policy making process?
• What are the opportunities and timing for input into formal processes

Evidence

Public Affairs is an increasingly important part of every day business, but there is often a lack of understanding of what Public Affairs is and how effective Public Affairs provide value.

Definitions

Public Affairs: PA is an organisation’s efforts to monitor its environment including its relationships with external stakeholders and activities that contribute to policy development. It is an organisation’s analysis and interactions with the outside world to address policy impact.

The Society of European Affairs Professionals (SEAP) counts 304 Members belonging to 114 firms/orgnaisations (see here below)

StrategThe Executive Certificate-Advocacy in International Affairs is designed as a multi-stakeholder, peer-to-peer learning experience that invites diverse participation from non-governmental and international organisations, international companies, unions and associations, national government agencies and diplomatic missions. It targets any professional who currently works or those who aspire to work in advocacy in a global context.

AALEP has elaborated the Questionnaire here below in an attempt to map the skills, knowledge and personal attributes of current GR Practitioners, as defined by them. In particular, the Questionnare will draw out what practitioners believe to be essential skills, knowledge and personal attributes for the GR Practice.This will help also draw conclusions as to which skills and types of knowledge form broader ‘competencies’ within particular cultures across Europe. Such a pan-European study has not been conducted before.