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.

Brussels-based tech start up Woorank is a dynamic grade on a 100 point scale that represents the internet marketing effectiveness of a website at a given time. The Woorank is based on a website review of 70 factors ranging from key words to usability and social monitoring.

The average score is 50. A score between 50 and 60 can be considered correct even very good for new websites that do not have many visitors yet and back links. A score between 60 and 70 is good for websites that are already well referenced and a score above 70 is considered excellent.

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)

Back in 2004, Tom Spencer, UK MEP from 1979 thru 1984 and from 1989 thru 1999 wrote an open letter to new MEPs, which we’re reproducing here below and hope you will enjoy.  The text has been edited and adapted to the 2014 context.

Dear Colleagues,

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.

Germany has greatly increased its power within the European institutional framework and has become an unquestionable leader of the European Union. The euro crisis indisputably created a window of opportunity for Germany to increase its influence on the European agenda. Today, Germany is undoubtedly encouraged to use the window of opportunity in order to increase its power and influence on the European arena, and behaves in a way political realism would expect it to do.

Mr. Juncker as the next Commission President has set himself five priorities.

1. Put policies that create growth and jobs at the centre of the policy agenda of the next Commission. Creation of a digital single market for consumers and businesses  making use of the great opportunities of digital technologies. To do so, we will need to have the courage to break down national silos in telecoms regulation, in copyright and data protection legislation, in the management of radio waves and in competition law.

European Union leaders have nominated Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker for European Commission President by an overwhelming majority over the fierce objections of Britain and Hungary. Confirmation of Mr. Juncker's nomination will take place on 16 July in the European Parliament.

The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement (AA) signed today by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Brussels is unprecedented in terms of ambition and depth. It lays the foundation for political association and economic integration between the EU and Ukraine and will make the modernization of the state based on European model a legal obligation.

Les métiers de l’influence se sont développés en France sous les effets conjugués de la réorganisation des modèles du pouvoir, de la construction européenne, de la révolution numérique et de l’externalisation des services aux entreprises. Industries, environnement, santé, secteurs sociaux et médico-sociaux ne peuvent se positionner et se faire entendre sans un lobbying efficace.