Archive
Year: 2011
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The MEP survey: six months on
June 14, 2011
It has been nearly half a year since we published the MEP survey into the digital trends of the European Parliament, looking at how MEPs go about communicating to their constituents and others, and how they conduct their research. The findings remain highly relevant to anyone communicating in the policy arena in Brussels, highlighting in particular the need for integrating online channels with well-trodden offline tactics like face to face meetings and traditional media relations...
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FH’ers to contribute to Japan relief effort through a bit of friendly sport
June 14, 2011
Now that many of the European domestic leagues have drawn to a close, some fans may be enjoying a bit of football respite. But for those who crave a little more there is a chance to combine an entertaining football match with supporting a good cause. Sweden FC, a Brussels based amateur team that includes some current and former FH’ers, together with the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU and the Mission of Japan...
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Libya highlights Europe’s defence weakness
June 13, 2011
The ability of we Europeans to provide for our own defence has been increasingly in doubt since the end of the cold war. I well remember George Robertson, when he was NATO Secretary General, contrasting the size of Europe’s military forces, running into millions, with the inability of European allies to provide just a few thousand troops for NATO operations. The Libyan campaign has forced the issue into sharp focus. Last Friday’s speech by US Defense...
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Libya Highlights Europe’s Defence Weakness
June 12, 2011
The ability of we Europeans to provide for our own defence has been increasingly in doubt since the end of the cold war. I well remember George Robertson, when he was NATO Secretary General, contrasting the size of Europe’s military forces, running into millions, with the inability of European allies to provide just a few thousand troops for NATO operations. The Libyan campaign has forced the issue into sharp focus. Last Friday’s speech by US...
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Time to throw away the trusty old position paper?
June 9, 2011
It seems that the position paper is about as standard issue as a BMW 320D or a Blackberry Bold for the public affairs professional in this town. You simply would not leave for a meeting without one. I think it’s time to change all that. It’s time to throw away the rather haggard old position paper and replace it with the shiny new ‘Benefits Statement’. Ta-dah! No, I’m not saying that we all need to...
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It’s not normal that Europeans go looking for serious debate and see MEP’s cucumber
June 8, 2011
From our bent bananas to nutritious and safe Spanish cucumbers we love our fruit and vegetables here in the Brussels bubble. So much so it seems that our elected representatives are intent on waving them at us in the European Parliament, as Francisco Sosa Wagner MEP (non-aligned, Spain) showed yesterday. Well, it makes for a good photo doesn't it. But what's the best thing to be waved in a debate in the European Parliament? Here's some of...
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Going Dutch: does the internet split the difference between public affairs and government relations?
June 7, 2011
Koen Droste over at FH Amsterdam recently appeared in the Financieel Dagblad on the subject of the effect of the internet on lobbying. You can check out his take on what the internet means for the practice of public affairs and government relations here. James...
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Why successful public affairs should be a bit like a Tom Cruise film
June 7, 2011
There's a moment in the Tom Cruise film 'Jerry Maguire' when Jerry (Tom Cruise) comes back to his wife Dorothy (Renee Zellwegger) as she's complaining about how much she hates men. Before Jerry can launch into his speech about why he loves her and why she should love him, Dorothy stops him and simply says "You had me at hello". For some reason I was reflecting recently that you'll know when you've been successful in public affairs...
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Brussels buzz words: the “FH tech spotlight”
May 31, 2011
Just like at national level, Brussels policy-makers and the wider stakeholder community regularly come up with “buzz words” – new jargon that outlines a crucial area that is grabbing the attention of the Brussels “bubble” at a specific point in time. In the ICT space, we have over the last few years witnessed particular excitement around issues such as online content, eHealth, privacy, cloud computing, green ICT, and most recently the European Citizen’s Initiative. In...
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Join Us: The European Sustainable Chemicals Management Conference 2011
May 31, 2011
From 31 May 2011 Fleishman-Hillard sponsors a two day conference in Brussels on the future of chemicals policy. Speakers include the head of the European Chemicals Agency, NGOs and industry. Topics include the future of chemicals policy, combined effects and endocrine disruption, nanotechnology, For more information: http://www.chemical-policy.eu ...