EU lobbying by third countries

Further, today any PR activity is under time limit pressure not to miss the first showing. Hence, PR campaigns almost always originate with a poor planning, have short-term effects and unpredictable subsequent judgements. It is doubtful whether an integral role of priming and framing is being secured too.  

Today, only scrutinized and deliberative lobbying representation may achieve the ultimate goal of any government. And ensure sustainable development. First convince the EU decision makers of your government goals and why they should trust in you. Then the media. Never the other way round. Campaigning will lead you nowhere. Your counterpart is not stupid.

Like all lobbying work, foreign government lobbying needs to look at long-term development in Europe. Strategies for long term changes need to be dealt extensively. Local realities are multiform, dynamic and unpredictable. Every socioeconomic issue is different and needs close monitoring. Therefore, lobbying work has to be adopted for each place individually taking into account political, social and cultural factors. Second, an avenue to success takes time as there are no shortcuts. Values and economic development rely on states and individuals changing their views and habits. Only commitment from both sides for many years may hit the target. It involves, at least, careful planning, research, coordination and follow-up. Last but not least, it is not possible to measure empowerment on a single scale. Each case is special and takes different milestones. As a result, EU lobbyists have to invest high end political access and knowledge, time and energy in respectful dialogue with the EU’s political decision makers. 

Offering a sunny image that leaves out much of the story just undermines the credibility of both the messenger and protégé. As we have just seen with Libya and Egypt. But the latest events in the Middle East should serve as the final kick-start for foreign governments to take the right decision when seriously lobbying the EU. 

Dr. Andreas Geiger is Managing Partner of Alber & Geiger, a leading EU government relations law firm in Brussels.