Brussels Matters Minsk Wednesday 18 June. Critical mass counts in Brussels Increased scale of institutions and complexity of EU decision making Change.

Brussels MattersMinsk Wednesday 18 June

Critical mass counts in Brussels

Increased scale of institutions and complexity of EU decision making

Change in style of lobbying at EU level, making scale and reach important

Importance of national efforts to support core campaign objectives

More QMVMore difficult for national champions

More problems for national trade associations Increased powers of EU federations of nationalassociations

Federations reform and evolve more responsive structures giving better service to large companies

New Treaty

SEA

Maastricht

PA NEEDS DRIVEEVOLUTION & REFORM

POWER SHIFTS TO EU LEVEL

SCALE &NETWORKMATTER

National networking Ad hoc CoalitionsMultiple bodiesDiverse voices

1986 1997 20071992

Amsterdam

Nice

2001

New style of advocacy needed

Influencing the EU decision-making process 1

• For new legislation, the European Commission will first consult with relevant stakeholders (including the EU Member States) and then publish its proposals

• These must then be either amended or approved by the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers.

• Coalition-building is an essential part of European public affairs work: representations from a single Member State are unlikely to lead to major change

• Therefore a co-ordinated approach to selected Member States across the European Union is often necessary.

• The European Parliament also now has a greater role under recent Treaty changes.

Influencing the EU decision-making process 2

• In some areas of policy – such as trade, agriculture and competition policy – the European Commission retains executive powers of its own, allowing it to take the final decision. In practice, however, the EU Member States are always consulted by the Commission.

• In all cases, the role of Commissioners (and their staff or Cabinets) can be crucial in influencing particular decisions – esp. given current delicate political balance with the current College of Commissioners between market liberalisers vs. national interests / protectionism.

• Such interventions are often linked to DG policy responsibilities. Consequently, the role of the different Directorate-Generals (DGs) within the Commission is very important.

• Third parties (such as industry and consumer groups) and the European media can have a considerable effect in terms of influencing on the overall outcome of the process. Important to remember the power of the Brussels Press Corps to drive national and global reporting.

Public affairs within the EU Member States

• EU Member States retain exclusive powers over many areas of policy – in addition to being consulted by the European Commission on issues under its own jurisdiction.

• Procedures naturally vary considerably between the different Member States. This makes making local knowledge and experience of the political culture very important.

• Having a good public affairs network in Europe is important.

• Good public affairs consultants will advise clients on how to deal with specific situations, rather than seek to represent them formally in dealings with the relevant audiences

• in brief – what to say, when to say it and who to say it to.

Overview of Public Affairs servicesDevelopment of overall strategic public affairs plan

Identification of key political, regulatory and official audiences

Establishing views held by key audiences and third parties

Development of key public affairs messages

Drafting and distributing correspondence & briefing material

Tactical support and implementation

Arranging meetings with key political audiences and contacts

Provision of intelligence and feedback – “eyes and ears”

Identification of potential issues – avoiding surprises

Advocate of messages (though not formal spokesmen)

Co-ordination of media messages consistent with political strategy

Stakeholder Engagement

Lead DG +Commission

er

Shareholders

Consumer & other pressure groups

Press and Media

Financial Analysts

Policy forums & think-tanks

Industry groups & trade associations

National Parliaments

EuropeanParliament (Plenary)

Council Working Group

(officials)

EU Council of Ministers

Member State

Brussels Representati

ve Offices

EuropeanParliament

(Committees)

Other Commissioners + Cabinets

LegalService

Other DGs

CommissionPresident

6

Belarus EU Business Council

The Belarus EU Business Council is an international not-for profit company registered in Belgium as an “AISBL”

The Council was formed in May 2007

Founding Members include:-

FintecBelarus Potash CompanyStemcorSanta Impex

New members include Manulli, BMZ, Velcom, Belneftekhim and Nehman

Legal advisers to the Council are Grayston and Company, Brussels

Accountants and auditors are Moore Stephens Wood Appleton,Brussels

Objectives

The Belarus EU Business Council is an independent pragmatic

enterprise led initiative,

It is funded by membership and business consulting fees

The Objectives are:-

• To promote an open dialogue between business and the Governments of Belarus and the EU

• To provide business support for government negotiations

• To assist Belarusian companies to develop their businesses in the EU and to improve their abilities for international growth

• To help EU companies to develop their business in Belarus

Aims and Objectives

To assist Belarusian companies to develop their businesses in the

EU and to improve their abilities for international growth.

To provide Belarusian companies with advice on market access

issues, and specifically to provide a route to the “Only Representative” for companies seeking to comply with REACH

To also assist international companies to develop their business in

Belarus.

To provide business support for the negotiation process.

To promote an open dialogue between business and the Governments of Belarus and the EU.

Advisory Council

The Council Advisory Group is made up of senior and respected academics, analysts, lawyers, bankers, economists, diplomats and expert advisers to provide expert help

and develop policy.

The Secretariat

The Council Secretariat provides a central communications and support service in Russian and English in Brussels.

The Secretariat co-ordinates and facilitates the activities of all the working groups and is responsible for implementing the Council’s actions and programme.

The Secretariat works closely with the Development Group, which is made up of core sponsors.

Members of the Development Group determine the policies andactions of the Council.

The Secretariat is managed by Anastasiya Shchehlakova with quality control and management supervision delivered by James Wilson and John Scollay.

Programme of events and actions in 2008

5-7 March; High level meetings in Minsk and REACH workshop

15 May REACH Conference, Minsk, together with Gosstandart

17 June Workshop on Raising Capital for Belarusian Companies in Financial Markets, co-organised with the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce

18 June Round Table on EU Lobbying: An introduction to the EU institutions, co-organised with the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce

16 October Conference in Minsk on “Raising Capital on Financial Markets”, co-organised with the Belarusian Chmaber of Commerce

17 November, support role for Belarus Investment Forum in London

Actions planned for 2008

Progress Working Group on restoration of EU GSP privileges

Progress REACH Working Group and establish Q&A support service through website

Establish WTO Working Group, and develop strategy to produce a campaign road map for accession

Develop business partnership portal internet based information service for business

Establish Textiles Working Group, and develop strategy to campaign for elimination of EU textile quotas

Grow membership

Canvas additional founding sponsors

Establish Secretariat support function in Minsk

Consulting Capabilities

•Government Relations

•Public Affairs

•Corporate Communications

•Translation and Interpretation Services

•Public Relations and Event Organisation

•Press and Media Relations

•Business and Strategic Consulting

•Market Research

www.beubc.com

Vodka – a case study

Vodka warsIn 2006 the Regulation that defines and describes spirit drinks came under review by the Council and the European Parliament.

A dispute broke out between different industry groups in the EU about the definition of vodka

Finland, Sweden, Poland and the Baltic Group of states argued that vodka can only be made from grain or potatoes or sugar beet molasses

Distillers in Italy Britain France and the Netherlands argued for a more liberal definition

This dispute gave rise to heavy industry lobbying in 2006 and 2007 of all of the EU institutions, backed by strong commercial interests – at stake the business models and distillation methods for the production of spirits

Diageo (the world’s largest producer of spirits) won the lobbying battle – and in December 2007 the new regulation was adopted by a qualified majority “Regulation 3631/07 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks.”

European Parliament

Established in 1952 as the Common Assembly

President Hans-Gert Pottering

14 Vice Presidents

7 Political Groups

22 Committees

34 Delegations (including delegation for Belarus)

785 members

Next Election June 2009

Meeting place Brussels and Strasbourg

Website: www.europarl.europa.eu

EP Delegation for Belarus

Chairman, Jacek PROTASIEWICZ, Poland, EPP

Vice-Chairman, Aldis KUŠĶIS, Latvia , EPP

Vice-Chairman, Joseph MUSCAT, Malta, PES

European Parliament Political Groups

Group Seats %

EUL 39 5.3

PES 200 27.3

EFA 42 5.7

EDD 15 2

ELDR 67 9.2

EPP 276 37.7

UEN 27 3.7

Other 66 9

European Council

To reach a qualified majority 255 votes are required, as well as a majority of member states.

As an added control, the votes cast will have to represent 62% of the EU population.

www.beubc.com

• Belarus EU Business Council • Avenue de l’Armée 103,• B1040 Brussels• tel: +322 732 58 36• fax: +322 735 16 49

• [email protected]

Questions?