According to OECD's latest forecast, Southeast Asia's economic growth will return to a 'robust' pre-crisis average of 5.5% over the next five years. The 10 economies of the Association of Southeast Asian nations will show resilience to the predicted slowdown of China and India. Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam will be insulated by a combining shift to domestic demand rather than exports as the main driver of economic growth.

Virtually all companies that operate on a global basis face the challenges associated not only with understanding and adapting to the differing needs and expectations of customers in different markets around the world, but also face often widely differing regulatory and government constraints on their market operations.

Out of 144 PA consultancies in Brussels :

- Only 8 firms (5.5%) generate between € 5 and € 12 mn in revenues

- 23 firms (15.9%) generate between € 1 and € 5 mn in revenues

- 22 firms (15.3%)  generate between € 0.5 mn and € 1 mn in revenues

- 55 firms (38.2%)  generate less than € 0.5 mn in revenues

- For 36 firms (25%)  figures on revenues are not available.

47 firms (32.6%) belong to the European Public Affairs’ Consultancies Association (EPACA)

The role of law firms in corporate EU lobbying is often underestimated. Indeed a number of the Brussels law firms appear keen to promote their lobbying activities to potential clients. Many law firms advertise their lobbying services via their own websites  and highlight how they offer clients strategic policy advice and help to shape EU legislation and administrative decisions. A large part of their work relates to shaping draft EU legislative measures.

Lobbyists able to marshal detailed information and arguments about difficult text in a proposal offer an invaluable service . They play a very important role in making sure that EU Commission personnel and Members of the EP and their staffs have all the information on any issue of importance.

To meet the minimum standard of competence a person must demonstrate that he/she is able to practice competently to the standard expected of a professional Public Policy Advocate (PPA).   The extent to which the person is able to perform each of the following elements in his/her Public Policy Advocacy practice must be taken into account whether or not he/she meets the overall standard.        

You can't learn lobbying by reading a book. You can go to school to learn about lobbying but you don't become a lobbyist by going to school. It's all about good instincts and instincts can never be taught. Not everybody has the instinct [a natural or inherent aptitude, impulse or capacity] to be a good lobbyist.

Currently some form of regulation exists in six of the EU Member States:

1. Germany
2. France
3. Lithuania (Law introduced in 2001)
4. Austria (Law introduced in 2012)
5. Poland (Law introduced in 1992)
6. Slovenia (Law introduced in 2011)

Slovenia and Austria introduced legislation in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Hungary revoked its previous legislation in 2011. Six other Member States are currently looking at the possibility of regulating interest representation:   

As Public Policy Advocates (PPAs) we provide essential services and are knowledgeable about client needs. We interact closely with government officials and civil society in a wide variety of settings. This gives us a broad appreciation of public policy needs, an understanding of how factors in the environment affect our clients and/or employers and society at large, and insight into how people respond to different strategies and services. As PPAs we help to interpret people's needs and expectations for sound public policies.

The International Public Policy Advocacy Association (IPPAA) is now a legal entity registered on 7 November 2012 in the District of Columbia in Washington, USA.

IPPAA will essentially promote professional and ethical public policy advocacy on a global basis; further cooperation between various nations' public policy advocates and their associated institutions; foster public understanding, transparency, and industry best practices; and conduct public policy advocates' education and training and other activities: