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.

The overarching objective of the Putin regime could be summarized as the recovery of political, economic, and geostrategic assets lost in the Soviet collapse. This is what might be called the “Putin Doctrine.” The goal of the Putin’s doctrine is to restore to the Russian state, at least partially, its patrimony, its crown jewels: ownership of politics, media, and courts; control over the economy—first and foremost, gas and oil; and unchallenged political, economic, and military dominance over the former Soviet Union.

New rules on maximum roaming charges for mobile users in the EU came into effect as of 1st July. The new rules affect all 28 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway  and will ensure that EU users (excludingVAT)  won't pay more than €0.24 per minute for making outside calls, €0.07 for receiving calls, €0.08 for sending texts and €0.45 to use the Internet  while travelling abroad.
 

Dods is the Publisher of the Parliament Magazine and the leading media, communications and events business in Brussels. The Parliament Magazine regularly organises a number of events, including roundtables, conferences, debates and receptions on a range of topics. Of particular interest to AALEP members may be their 'Roundtables'. The Parliament Magazine runs dozens of 'Roundtables' or 'Fringe Events' every year.

At the moment several trends can be detected within the public sector. The origin of these trends can be found in the ongoing introduction of public management methods and tools within the public sector. The government of the future will be an effective, cost-efficient and accountable government that delivers high-quality services.