Ms. Rosanna Revello, an outstanding Italian practitioner based in Genova and with offices in both Genova and Rome with a solid experience in public affairs and corporate communications has been approved to join AALEP. Rosanna established her consultancy 'Chiappe Revello' back in 1985 with Aldo Chiappe, who has been referred to as the 'Founder of Public Relations in Italy'. Today the firm is controlled by the Revello family and is part of the Kreab Gavin & Anderson network. 

Navigating the European Union system is complicated. Lobbyists face a monumental task in simply trying to figure out where to focus their efforts. Because EU member states do not share the same underlying ideological and economic interests, it is equally important, if not more important to concentrate on the capitals and if you want a positive outcome, you must have the message coming from the member states.

The golden rule of EU lobbying is to get four things right: timing, intelligence, targeting and sensitivity.

The problem with the EU foreign policy is twofold: There are differing definitions and perceptions of national interests (and, by extension, of European interest) and differing analyses and views on appropriate policy strategies for different challenges. But there is another important issue, even when interests and strategies converge, there is a reluctance to give up the prerogative of national action and national initiatives.

An economic boom is under way in Mongolia, thanks largely to improving prospects for the country's all-important mining sector. The Economist Intelligence Unit forecasts that real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth will average a supercharged 13.4% a year in 2011-2012.

At the same time, the country needs to look beyond the coal and copper mines that are driving its economic boom to find a more balanced mode of growth. There are other sectors like cashmere and emerging industries such as tourism, food production and metal processing that need development.

Reputation impacts and influences a country's stakeholders worldwide. When people trust, admire and have a good feeling  about a country, not only are they more likely to recommend key supportive behaviours to others, people are also likely to give a nation the benefit of the doubt in a time of crisis. There is a strong pattern between reputation and support.

Although AALEP is first and foremost a membership organization reserved only for senior professionals in the lobbying field, we believe it is important to integrate the fresh energy and enthusiasm of recent graduates and new professionals who are in need of coaching and guidance to advance their career.

In terms of Personal Tax Rate, the winners in the highest tax rate category are: Gold:  Sweden (56%), Silver: Belgium: (54%) and Bronze: The Netherlands (52%)

while the winners in the lowest tax rate category are: Gold: Bulgaria (10%), Silver: Czech Republic and Lithuania (15%) and Bronze: Romania (16%).

In terms of Corporate Tax Rate, the winners in the highest tax rate category are: Gold: Malta (35%), Silver: France and Belgium (34%) and Bronze: Italy (31%)

The number of think tanks in Europe has more than quadrupled in recent years (an estimated 1,200) and they have become more active and inventive at disseminating solutions to decision-makers. Leading think tanks in Brussels include the Bertelsman Stiftung, the Brussels European and Global Economic Laboratory (Bruegel), the Center for European Studies (CEPS), the Egmont Institute, the European Policy Centre (EPC), the Institut Français des Relations Internationales (IFRI), Madriaga-College of Europe Foundation, Notre Europe and the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWPI).

Beside AALEP willingness to register in the soon to be uncovered EP-EC Transparency Register, we most certainly don't want to be perceived as simply 'Registrants' so we will continue to call ourselves "Lobbyists" because that's what we are.

AALEP believes that those of us who seek to use our relationships, information and considerable skills to influence appointed and elected public officials to make sound public decisions for the benefit of society as a whole need to reclaim the word and the idea behind it. 'I am a lobbyist'. Nothing to be ashamed about.

It used to be called 'Register of Interest Representives' at the European Commission and  'Register of Accredited Lobbyists' at the European Parliament, now  the NEW European Parliament-European Commission joint register is going to be called 'THE TRANSPARENCY REGISTER'.