AALEP has created a new Division called Strategic Alliances and Partnerships to give even more thrust to its international outreach and forge new relations. The mission of the Strategic Alliances and Partnerships Division will be to align AALEP in unique and rewarding partnerships with country and/or regional associations of public affairs, communications consultants, lobbyists sharing the vision and goals of AALEP.

AALEP has already concluded a number of protocols of co-operation with many associations throughout the world (see links).

AALEP which has developed extensive programmes in Public Policy Advocacy and already provides a very comphensive Executive Certificate in Public Policy Advocacy is now launching its own Academy of Public Policy Advocacy (APPA) to combine all its educational and training resources and services under one roof.

The Act on Legislative and Regulatory Lobbying was passed by the Parliament in July 2005 and came into force on 7 March 2006. The Act describes the principles of conducting lobbying activities. “Lobbying activities” consist of actions conducted by legally admissible methods that seek to influence public authorities in the law-making process. Lobbying activities aim to ensure that the arguments and interests of social and professional groups are taken into account in the decisions of public officials.

Policy advocacy refers to advocacy tactics, strategies and initiatives which target changes to policies and legislation. These advocacy initiatives seek to establish new policies, improve existing policies or challenge the development of policies. Policy advocacy usually seeks to engage various sectors of the government which includes: public servants, bureaucrats, political appointees, elected officials and legislators. As can be seen here below most of what is involved in public policy work has more to do with education rather than the act of influencing legislation.

The EU Transparency Register is designed as a “one stop shop” for interest representatives seeking to influence EU policy-making. It currently lists around 5 700 organisations based mainly in Brussels. They range across a wide variety of categories, from consultancies and law firms to NGOs and academic organisations, think tanks and religious entities. The register is run by the joint (EP/Commission) Transparency Register Secretariat (JTRS), which is subordinate to the Secretaries-General of both institutions.

The Confederation of the British Industry (CBI) speak for more than 240,000 companies of every size. The regional structure of the CBI is a legacy of its formation but is also common among other business lobby groups including the British Chamber of Commerce . Members are represented geographically through 12 regional councils which include Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

A political level public policy advocacy strategy cannot succeed without the engagement of senior politicians, state officials and representatives of business and other important elements of society. The key constraint in Montenegro at this time is the scarcity of human resources needed to improve Montenegro’s public policy advocacy with the EU:

There are less than 5 months left until the famous Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius in late November. However, the political decision on the fate of the Agreement will be made by the EU member states at a meeting of the EU Council already in October on the basis of assessments of progress made by Ukraine.

Ukraine as a recipient of EU assistance has never proactively engage the European Union for its development priorities and the amount of aid required. It is high time for Ukraine to change this approach and to show a conscious commitment to European integration and its ability to reform. First, the Ukrainian government and non-state actors have to agree on the strategic priorities of national development. Secondly, a need assessment must be carried out and the cost of the reform process determined.

There is a strong consensus among government and opposition in Ukraine towards the “European destiny” of the country. The EU needs to avoid Ukraine being pushed into the arms of Russia, and that an independent Ukraine best serve European ambitions and EU geo-strategic interests.

The EU has made a significant political investment in Kiev over the years. Yet, Brussels’s policy and the instruments it has used have had little impact on Ukraine. The country is moving further away from the EU and into a gray zone of no reform.