THIRD COUNTRY PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY IN BRUSSELS

A third country is the term used by the European Commission to define any country of the world that is NOT one of the 28 (European Union) member states and EEA-EFTA (European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway )-European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). The meaning is clearest when we are talking about relations between two EU Member States (or between the EU institutions and a Member State) and another country-literally a third country that is outside the European Union.

Third Countries include the following:

1. Countries preparing to join the EU (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey)
2. European Eastern Partnership  ( Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine)
3. Russia
4. European Neighbourhood (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morroco, Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia)
5. All countries in North, South and South America
6. All countries in Africa
7. All countries in Asia
8. All countries in Oceania

Third country governments are increasingly trying to position themselves not so much with the EU Member States but with the EU institutions in Brussels. Foreign governments need to look at long-term development in Europe and strategies for long term changes need to be dealt with extensively. This requires careful planning, research, coordination and follow-up. It is very important for third countries to be properly represented at all levels in the EU institutions. Activities of the official representatives in Brussels are of paramount importance and need to be dynamic and constant. Senior government officials from third countries, particularly from foreign affairs, trade and industry , as well as top managers of public companies trading with the EU, need to know how to deal with the EU to protect their interests. Therefore a deeper understanding of real decision-making processes, as well as the characteristics of interest representation and public policy advocacy in Brussels are indispensable.

It must be recognized however that many foreign missions to the EU are so understaffed that they can do little more than maintain a formal presence, to keep appearances in Brussels. Does this matter? The answer surely is YES. In an era transformed by globalization and the communications revolution, a well-resourced diplomatic effort is more crucial than ever. Having strong connections not only with the EU institutions but with business and civils society in EU Member States is increasingly vital to national interests. Unfortunately due to chronic understaffing, many foreign missions to the EU are short changed on many of prerequisites for their effectiveness. Many diplomats in Brussels are hampered by a growing deficit between what they are being called to do and the resources available to carry out that mission.

This under-investment funding, staffing and training is undermining their countries' diplomatic efforts. In some cases, the Foreign Ministry back home is actually an obstacle to the Mission in Brussels by its failure to respond effectively, promptly and cooperatively when receiving communications from Brussels requesting action on a specific issue. More effective and efficient coordination between the Foreign Ministry and the missions abroad on various issues is paramount to sustain a country's foreign policy vision.

Many missions are so poorly funded that when they receive funding, it goes far beyond the need and the timing of the funding.  As for many countries human and financial resources remain scarce, governments should be encouraged to think out of the box in 'MAXIMUM COVERAGE WITH MINIMUM RESOURCES' by perhaps applying new methods such as outsourcing, hiring more professional local staff, hiring contract public policy advocates.

A strategy-based budgeting should be considered to ensure that the activities of each agency complement, not duplicate one another in moving the overall strategic framework. Foreign missions to the EU are the front liners of their country's public diplomacy and considering the benefits and opportunities the EU can provide, they deserve and rightly so need to be equipped with enough resources to get the job done.