The European Public Affairs Consultancies Association (EPACA) is the representative trade body for public affairs consultancies working with the EU institutions.

EPACA membership currently comprises 42 companies with over 600 staff and represents a high proportion of EU public affairs services providers.

A U.S. missile strike on Syria could trigger an explosive chain reaction from Syria or its allies like Hezbollah and Iran, and the blowback could hit U.S./French targets or Israel or Syria might simply stop using chemical weapons and there is no retaliation at all. Gauging the ripple effects of a U.S. strike on Syria is part of the calculations of the Obama administration but it is imprecise science. Any military strike often has ramifications that are not anticipated. We face major uncertainties regarless of what is done.

Public Affairs Consultancies in Brussels generate an estimated 200 million euros in combined earnings each year. 100 million euros or 50% of the total is attributed to the following firms: APCO, Fleishman Hillard, Burson Marsteller, Olgilvy, Hill & Knowlton, Kreab Gavin Anderson, Weber Shandwick, Porter Novelli, Akkanto, FTI Consulting, Cabinet DN, Interel European Affairs, Grayling and Edelman.

Whether it is monitoring government activities, advocating, lobbying or strategic partnering, those leaders who demonstrate they understand and can influence the public policy arena are better able to support those they serve. The process of influencing policy can be broken into four broad and interelated steps.

If you are a board member, chief executive officer or programme manager, following the four steps outlined here below will help you influence governments on the issue that are important to you and your organization.

Trade associations have a crucial role to play in promoting best practice, helping companies become more competitive and formulating effective public policy and delivery. They have tremendous potential to act as a co-ordinated voice of business when talking to government, and great value in terms of quickly disseminating messages about government policy to their members. Productive engagement between associations and government is very important for the policy making process.

Regional representations have become a conspicuous presence in Brussels, well acknowledged as partners of the European policy community. Offices from EU Member States (and sometimes from non-Member States) have become a significant category of players in the Brussels-based supranational policy community. Brussels has acquired the status of international capital for regional and local lobbying.

Although up to 80 percent of legislation in certain policy areas emanates from Brussels, and while many say that Brussels has gained parity with Washington DC as the 'lobbying capital of the world', there is not one lobbying capital within the EU but 28 lobbying capitals.

There is no efficient EU lobbying without lobbying at national level. Therefore, maintaining staff in major European capitals to try and influence national governments is of paramount importance.

Public relations should be an integral part of your public policy advocacy efforts. Advocacy is the act of speaking or writing in favor of an issue by providing recommendation and support. Public relations, on the other hand, are the activities that are designed to win the favor of the general public and promote a better understanding of policies and purposes. It involves disseminating information in print and non-print media.

Research has linked an earthquake (magnitude 3.9) that struck near Youngstow in Ohio, USA on 31 December 2011 to the underground injection of wastewater from fracking.

The practice of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, involves injecting water, sand and other materials under high pressures into a well to fracture rock. This opens up fissures that help oil and natural gas flow out more freely. This process generates wastewater that is often pumped underground as well, in order to get rid of it.

The Society of European Public Affairs Professionals (SEAP) counts 299 individuals who are active as European Affairs practitioners in consultancies, law firms, trade associations and individual companies with representations in Brussels. The SEAP has also members from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and think tanks and is open to representatives of the EU trade unions or any other orgaisations of interest representatives.