Featuring Europe's Leader in EU Politics, Public Affairs and Lobbying

The Washington Campus, in partnership with the European Training Institute, is presenting a special day-long workshop on "The European Union in Transition."

By participating in this workshop, representatives of multinational companies, government and its agencies, and non-governmental organizations will gain a heightened understanding of a Europe in transition.  Included in this workshop is an introduction to the  new power structure that has been assembled for high-level decision making in the EU, the new procedures that will be utilized to drive those decisions, and the real and stated priorities of the Parliament, Council and Commission as they work to implement solutions to problems of international proportion.

 The adoption of the Lisbon Treaty, coupled with the election of a new European Commission, and questions about the strength of the European economy, create an enormous set of challenges for Europeans as well as those around the world who work with or do business in the European Union and its member states.  The Lisbon Treaty, designed to streamline decision making and raise the EU’s stature in international affairs, has changed the balance of power in and between the legislative and executive branches and has altered the influence and position of some member states. The European Parliament and Council, which comprise the legislative branch, now share equal footing in a number of key legislative areas as well as in approving the EU budget.  Changes are also plentiful within the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, following the election of President Barroso to a second term.  The selection of new Commission members and the increase in Parliamentary power could serve to marginalize the “comitology” process (the system of committees made up of representatives of member-states that was formed to work with the Commission in developing – or blocking- the implementing measures of the executive branch) and significantly change the priorities of EU’s executive branch. 

Do you understand the balance of power and the decision-making process in the European Union?  What do all of these changes mean in terms of identifying the best point of contact for your public affairs and advocacy strategies or for your bilateral and multinational agreements and programs?  Is the European Union sustainable in its current form, especially during this time of economic crisis and geopolitical tension? 

Attend our one-day seminar for the answers to these questions and more as you learn from the professionals in EU politics, public affairs and lobbying and gain in-depth knowledge on the structure and function of the European Union, the changes created by the Lisbon Treaty, as well as behind-the-scenes strategies for working effectively within this complex bureaucracy.    In addition, our experts will discuss the stated and false priorities of the EU as it struggles to stabilize the euro, solve the economic crisis in Greece, advance new solutions to environmental and energy problems, and address long-standing as well as new concerns related to security, immigration, and European integration.

Program Details & Schedule

Date:  Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Time:  9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Location:  Venable LLP, 575 7th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Speakers: 

• Daniel Guéguen is a well-known EU Public Affairs practitioner with 35 years of experience, as well as a specialist in prospective thinking. He published in 2001 a book that anticipated the current crisis of the Euro.
  • CEO, CLAN Public Affairs - ESL & Network Group; Executive Chairman, ETI
• Vicky Marissen is a recognized specialist of the EU decision-making process and in particular the system to adopt technical implementing measures, an essential component of EU activities.
  • Director, CLAN Public Affairs

Workshop Agenda:

Morning Sessions - The State of the European Union:  Where is the EU now and where is it going?

• The 2010 Institutional Uncertainties:  The New EU Commission, The Treaty of Lisbon, and Other Bureaucratic Changes
• The Role of the EU in the Current Economic and Financial crisis
• EU Priorities:  the Real Priorities, the False Priorities and the Forgotten Ones
• Challenges and Opportunities in Transatlantic Relations Today and Tomorrow

Afternoon Sessions - European Public Affairs

• Which Leaders, Key Officials and Stakeholders Hold Power on the EU Scene
• The EU Decision-Making Process as well as Real, Stated and False Priorities
• Public Affairs Techniques and Methodology

Who Should Attend?

Corporate, government, educational and NGO leaders who do business in Europe, or who work in partnership with the European Union, and wish to understand how to interact with decision-makers and influence outcomes within the bureaucracy of the European Union.

Cost and Registration

The total cost of the workshop is $550.00, including tuition, materials and lunch. 

* Federal Employees are eligible for a 10% discount off the total program cost upon registration.

For information on registration and program dates for 2011, please contact The Washington Campus at (202) 234-4446 or info@washcampus.edu.

For more information on ETI and the courses they offer, please visit their website at www.e-t-i.be.