Global competence refers to the acquisition of in-depth knowledge and understanding of international issues, an appreciation of and ability to work with people from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, proficiency in a foreign language, and skills to function productively in an interdependent world community. For some individuals , all or most of these characteristics are ones that he/she will find ways to develop even if the resources are lacking. For others, they must be convinced of the need to develop global competence.

The Association of Accredited Public Policy Advocates to the European Union (AALEP) is launching an outreach initiative intended to expand its international membership and bring more Public Policy Advocates (including lobbyists, public affairs and government affairs professionals, communications and media experts etc.) into the fold. The aim is to promote AALEP around the world and further global competence in Public Policy Advocacy.

Foreign countries may spend money in advocacy at the EU level because they want to react or respond to situations in Brussels. For example when the mood in Brussels becomes highly critical of a certain country, the country may feel that Brussels needs to be better informed of the facts or it may feel that the EU needs to be led to view the issue from a different angle (a case of reaction). Of course, alternatively, it may feel that there is little it can do about it (a case of non-reaction).

With increasingly huge sums in play, whether in terms merchandising, sponsorship, betting or athlete salaries, the seduction of and vulnerability to corrupt behaviour has grown. The sport world has responded slowly and, to date, inadequately. It is as serious a threat as doping; only it has the potential to inflict much greater damage on the sport world and the communities, representing billions of people globally, that support it.

The Treaty of Lisbon made sport a European Union area of competency, in which it can support, coordinate and complement the actions of the Member States. By promoting sustainable, smart and inclusive growth, and job creation, sport also contributes to the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy. Furthermore, it has a positive effect on social inclusion, education, training, public health and active ageing.

National associations in all member states understand that effective influence requires stronger 'lobbying' of EU institutions. Despite challenges, national associations have managed to adapt to European integration in most areas. They have done so through the development of various European resources: opening European offices (e.g. German national associations come first), creating EU affairs management structure, sometimes even buying the services of Brussels-based lobby firms.

The name Gibraltar is the Spanish derivation of the Arabic name of Jabal- Al Taric, meaning the "mountain of Taric". Gibraltar joined the European Union on 1 January 1973 at the time of the United Kingdom’s accession to the European economic community. It did so under an article of the treaty of Rome, now contained in identical form in the treaty on the functioning of the EU, which applies to “European territories for whose external relations a member state is responsible”.

Although  EU member states have committed themselves to pursuing certain objectives together in the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy they continue to run their own national foreign policies. As an international actor the EU complements but does not replace the 28 individual actors making up its membership.

There is a general acceptance in national associations that they need to be effective at the European level if they are properly to serve the interests of their members. While national associations have a good input into the work of their principal European association, they are not as effective at the European level as they are domestically. It is difficult to be effective at the European level, more difficult than it is at national level.

The 2013 PublicAffairsAsia  SharingValueAsia Forum  will take place on 23 October 2013 in Singapore and examine how future growth and development in Asia can be driven by tripartite corporate led partnership between Multinational Corporations (MNCs), governments and civil society groups.