Lobbying Europe for NGO's… where do you start?

Many NGOs fail to realise the opportunities open to them to contribute to policy making, with the result that they become only actively involved in campaigning for or against a piece of legislation when it is close to being ratified at a national level.

However in the European Institutions, like the European Parliament, European Commission and Council of Ministers, well organised NGOs can have a powerful voice and can make a real difference in producing the fairest legislation.

A brand new  website introduces NGO's to the opportunities that exist for them to contribute to forming legislation at a European level. Activivists are invited tyo find their voice and share it.

With special background sections on the Commission, the Parliament, the Council of Ministers, civil society, other organisations and the European Court of Justice, the site gives the interested visitor a crashcourse in the EU and its procedures. Look also under the tab resources; an impressive background catalogue opens up, enough to make any student in EU affairs happy!

Hats off to Martin Territ and the EU in Ireland, for this excellent initiative. It looks fresh, positive, professional. That the site is embedded in the LinkedIn-environment is also a strong statement, because it immediately opens the door to true interaction and weblinking on a large scale. So, we warmly salute you!  Lobbying Europe for NGO's has become easier; the tool will make the debate more spicy and varied!

In July, €250m were already approved for 210 new ecological projects, under the third call for the Life+ programme, the European fund for the environment which runs from 2007 to 2013. LIFE is the EU’s financial instrument supporting environmental and nature conservation projects throughout the EU, as well as in some candidate, acceding and neighbouring countries. Since 1992, LIFE has co-financed some 3115 projects, contributing approximately €2 billion to the protection of the environment.

The efforts of the EU to show its ecological side have been considerable over the least years. Barrosso II has made it into a spearpoint of its policy. The opening up of this treasure of positive action towards the general public merits bigger media attention. The green week is a good forum, but the media could do more, all through the year, to walk the walk and talk the talk of the green economy in Europe.
 

The stress tests of 91 European banks in 20 EU countries indicates "the banks are doing well". Good news, no doubt.
At least, the results sound a lot better then some thought. With some relief, media across Europe announced "only seven failed". Yet most European print media mainly showed doubt about the credibility of the exercise. A similar test last year on 19 banks int the US gave a red card to 10 American colleagues. But  the check up was not the same, and this one was widely criticized as being too weak.

If you want to check for a blood ilness, it is not enough to look into the throat of a patient and ask him to say 'AAA'. Clearly, the test was designed to show the world that a full-blown euro crisis would not topple the local banks, calm spirits and regain confidence of investors. A charm offensive, in short. Too weak, too little, etc.

Maybe so. But still, from an image point of view, this is a good move, bringing good news. At least it is news that is not built on lies, as was the case in the Greec drama the world witnessed not so long ago. Combined with the spectacular jump of the German business sentiment in July and the UK growing faster than expected, the mood is up, while the US is showing signs of slowing and the housing market is still suffering. There are still bizarre 'for sale' signs on ebay for both common and spectacular houses in the US. So is it 'Sweet Europe, Sour America?', as Reuters asks?

One thing is clear, you cannot build your house on lies, debts and mortgages. Hard work, honesty and a tight reign on your home economics are the only way forward, for home owners, banks and governments alike. Then all can say AAAh with confidence.

Belgium starts its Presidency of the EU by dancing for Europe.
Crowds gathered in twelve towns across the kingdom to dance to a song of the local group Jaune Toujours. Typical for the land of beer, chocolate and "Manneken Pis", the song "Ici Bruxelles-Brussel hier" had bi-lingual lyrics, reflecting the search for balance between the Flemish and the French. The website www.eutrio.be gives a broad overview of the presidency and the importance for Europe. The name of the site refers to the common work programme with the previous Presidency (Spain) and the following Presidency (Hungary). Or does it indicate the future of Belgium, as a more separate yet unified European country in the heart of Europe with Flemish, French and German further independence and a Brussels DC arrangement? In any case, the more modest ambitions of the Belgian government in current affairs and the well prepared Presidency seem to promise a positive, welcome breathe of Fresh air for Europe. By September a series of initiatives will come to the decision phase, making it an interesting time to follow the proceedings. Presseurope says the relative calm of the new Presidency and the string of "smaller" countries in the EU that will follow will be a good thing for the stability of Europe. Belgium will be succeeded by Hungary, Poland, Denmark, Cyprus, Ireland, Lithuania and Greece for the rotating presidency. That gives a period up to 2014, where the Presidency will most likely not seek to bring about any major changes in European affairs.

For those wanting to zoom in on the content and the news of the Belgian Presidency, the site offer press accreditation, RSS and SMS alert possibilities.

So Belgium leads the dance of the EU,  and can show that it remains a stable partner, even in times when it is looking for a new identity and internal structures.

So… is the crisis in Europe over?
Rupert Murdoch made a new bold move that would point in that direction. His News Corp. offers to pay $11.5 billion for the remaining shares of British broadcaster BSkyB. Murdoch as the herald of a sunny new day over the old continent? Michael Corkery at the WSJ seems to imply this in his article "is the Crisis in Europe Over? Just Ask Rupert Murdoch". He reads the big bid as the Aussy tycoon's way of betting that the problems in Europe aren’t so bad as they seem after all. Or on a more sober note, at least it indicates Murdoch believes the crisis will not reduce the Briton's hunger for pay TV consumption, making the bid on one of the largest satellite broadcasters in England and Ireland logical.

The Financial Times calls the move Mr Murdoch’s most significant strategic manoeuvre in years. It quotes a financier with knowledge of the Murdoch move: "By investing in a pay-television business, he is derisking the whole News Corp portfolio away from advertising-dependent businesses”. The FT adds conventional wisdom would suggest to spend the cash in geographic growth markets such as India and Brazil, or in sub-sectors that are riding the growth in internet advertising, education spending or video games sales. Instead, Mr Murdoch is returning to the slow-growing UK market.

So, is Murdoch betting on Europe's recovery? Let's not get our hopes up to high. Theodora Zemek, head of global fixed income at AXA Investment Managers, says in The Telegraph about he Eurozone that having over-riding legal powers "is a precondition for the system to work but it doesn't exist in Europe and the bond markets are starting to figure this out. We are looking at a noble experiment on the brink of failure." The French analysts see it possible that the eurozone would break in half or disintegrate.

Let democracy be our currency! The danger exists that economical problems would destroy the reality of democratic freedom in Europe as a whole and in specific weakened countries, as Barrosso recently warned. Let us all agree that nationalism, selfishness and mistrust are not an option, as says Tahar ben Jelloun on Presseurope:

Regardless of the outcome of this crisis, Europe is no longer a utopia, or a virtual place, but a real entity that is still in the process of construction, which still needs our determined support and good will. Europe is a blessing. The idea that several countries should join together to form a union based on geography, history and on the values of democracy and freedom remains the positive legacy of the Second World War. But does anyone spare a thought for the early years of the union that grew from seven to 27 countries?

Is the love affair between China and Europe in trouble?
At the EU pavilion in Shanghai, the sun is shining on the alliance between the EU and the Middle Kingdom. The European Union shares a pavilion with Belgium at the 2010 World Expo.  Under the “Movement and Interaction” theme, the presence is positive and dynamic. After Europe Day on May 9, next Sunday the Belgian Day is on the programme. Prince Filip of Belgium will pay a visit to the event.

But will high hopes, positive thinking and royal visits be enough to maintain the marriage between Europe and China? Under the title “How China walks over Europe”, Presseurop picks up the article of Pramit Pal Chaudhuri of the Hindustan Times. The EU became China’s number one trading partner, but the trade deficit ballooned to nearly 170 billion euros — in Beijing’s direction, the Indian editor writes. The Tibetan riots in 2008 and the disappointing Copenhagen climate summit further tainted the happy couple’s pictures.  

What can be done? On foreignpolicy.com Jonathan Holslag of the Brussels Institute of Contemporary China Studies wrote that "Europe cannot back up its soft power with hard economic capabilities" in the green debate. The European Commission must better pool research projects scattered through Europe and persuade member states to do more.
The same applies to diplomacy. Europe should speak in one voice and with one mouth. With a clear position and insight in the logic and culture of the Chinese decision makers. The gap is real. And unity is the only answer. It is a necessity, in facing the growing Chinese dragon. Then the love between China and Europe can pick up and become truly passionate.

Angela Merkel is facing all kinds of criticism in her quest to keep the European family together and solvent. The Chancellor faces a tough agenda: tackle the financial crisis, prevent a coalition collaps and replace the German president. The price she pays for her European efforts is high.  Loss of home voters and sliding confidence in her local market go together with growing criticism from other European countries on Berlin.

And the German captain does not like it. The Guardian heads with "Germany signals end of Love Affair". Ian Traynor writes the change in Berlin is a tectonic shift in the EU– from pushing Europe forward to balking at the sacrifices Germany has to make. France and Germany are not the united front they appeared to be. Merkel is said to imitate Sarkozy mockingly, while the French Chef is said to boast to his team how he has bested the German Chancellor.

Merkel yesterday went to visit the German soccer team, in preparation for the world cup. To show them support of course. No doubt at the same time to signal she still is first German and then European. Because this is her struggle too. She needs to balance the interest of her market as the central economic power in Europe with that of another power, the EU. And she needs to keep credibility high at home while doing so. Ian Traynor has a point when he says better communications offer the solution to that problem. The message should be loud and clear for all Germans that Europe is good for them. Angela should stress that Germany, as Europe's biggest exporter, benefits the most from a single and strong Europe. But the opposition has a field day. It is easier in politics to criticise 'the outside world' and preach nationalism, than to see that a bigger union of powers, even with major issues to solve, is the best choice.

"In the history of the European Union, " said Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform thinktank in The Guardian, "I've never seen Germany so isolated before." This is not a good state of affairs. Germany should never be an outsider of debate and negociations in Europe. The logic for the German market also applies for Europe as a whole: Germany is both Deutschland and Europe, supporting one is supporting the other.
 

Promoting a country for investors is a complex challenge.

The business logic must be sound. It has to dazzle the commercial minds. You have to woe the number crunchers and financial managers.  The human resources angle needs to be covered fully and even transport and logistics must be checked.

But, the personal side in telling the story will tip you over. What really makes the difference is to bring across the emotion of belonging, pride and excitement. The music carries you; the faces of the people looking at you make you feel part of the story. Their quotes are like signed guarantee statements. And then you will say: "This is where I want to live and raise a family. Where I want to let my kids go to school. Where I will be happy."  So every image and every line of copy writing must lead to that conclusion.

Promoting a country is an art. Of course it is offers cliches. But they are part of what sells, at least if they are based on facts. Just sorry they forgot to mention Antwerp is the second-biggest harbor in Europe. Nevertheless, heads off to the creators of this promotional film. Or as the Flemish would say in Belgium; "Chapeau!"

Comment reproduced with permission of  www.firstbase.be

Europe reached agreement to show some Euro Muscles from Brussels
With a rescue package close to $1 trillion, the European Union confirms its commitment and strenght to hold the Euro fort. It has been under attack for several months now and it was high time to put on a show of force. 'E.U. details $957 Billion Rescue Package', the NY Times headlines.  The speculation armies were attacking the gates of Fort Europe and reinforcements seem to have arrived just in time. The finance ministers from the European Union were under high pressure to come up with a strong answer, before the opening of the financial markets in Asia. And they showed that muscles from Brussels are firm in defense of the Euro currency.

High Noon
It was  high time to show the financial world the Euro was not the best bet for speculators to mingle with. Hesitation and half action, soothing words without direct and firm steps had weakened the credibility of the Euro. The Greek drama, packed with emotion, mistrust, deceit, rioting and now even death, and the spreading crisis virus to other European markets had to be addressed. When the time frame is defined, suddenly things can come to a conclusion. It is a  rule that debate and negotiations expand with the time allotted for reaching a decision. When you know time is running out, things often fall into place. In the early morning hours, a decision was reached. And the markets like it.

Euro response… muscles enough in the long term?
The deal provides $560 billion in new loans and $76 billion under an existing lending program, with the IMF adding $321 billion.
Olli Rehn, the European commissioner for monetary policy, was firm “We shall defend the euro whatever it takes”.
David Marsh, the author of “The Euro,” a book on the history of monetary union“ still shows some doubts on the rocky road to recovery:

"The fact that they are worried is clear. But I don’t think that there is enough commitment or economic firepower in Germany to provide the massive loan guarantees to satisfy the markets.”

At least the first signs in the market are positive, the trend is up. The psychological boost for the markets seems to work on the short term. Now the economies and the recovery plans themselves have to drive down the point. Let us hope the fort holds!

Digital Europe needs urgent action to become one and drive the economy
Datanews reports the Lobby group DigitalEurope calls out the clock is ticking to create the digital agenda, the action field of Commissioner Kroes. The Digital agenda, scheduled for May 18th, needs to be a strong message, to push agenda forward. "With a mere 7% of e-commerce across borders and each country still maintaining local rules, there is a lot of work to be done", says Erkki Ormala, President of Digital Europe in Brussels, where the lobby group presented   ‘A Transformational Agenda for the Digital Age’. The association unites ICT-companies such as IBM, Intel, Apple, Nokia, Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco en Siemens.

The world is at a turning point. So is Europe. These are no ordinary times.  What Europe needs is a transformational agenda.  José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission,  "A Vision for EU 2020" October 2009

Digital agenda is urgent and important
Gerard De Graaf, Head of Unit, Strategic Objective Prosperity of the European Commission, admitted there was a  ‘sense of urgency’ is, but says he doubted that Europe is fully aware of this. “The importance of broadband is still underestimated", he stated.  Anthony Whelan, Head of Cabinet of Neelie Kroes confirmed that on May 18th  the document on the ‘Digital Agenda’ as part of the  ‘EU 2020’ vision would be ready. He added the key is not technology, but people.

Poke – poke back
The DigitalEurope document can be a supplementary source of inspiration, with a series of quick wins in varied sectors.This is a serious 'poke', as they say on Facebook, where friends give each other a little "push", to confirm they're still there and show they care. Barroso II clearly wants to make ICT  a spearhead of policy for the years to come. And rightly so. The poke will be seen as welcome, and no doubt will receive a "poke back". ICT is one of the cards to play in the transformation of Europe, and true, the tide is high, with the Bric countries knocking ever louder at the door (and who knows soon after the world cup BricS, with South Africa joining the world growth leaders?)