Economic Forum FASTER TOWARDS THE EUROPEAN UNION Ohrid, 3 November 2008 Public-Private Partnership for Macedonian Interest Representation in Brussels Prof.dr Boris CIZELJ Chairman, Slovenian Business & Research Association Brussels Brussels

Issues to be presented: Brussels: the world lobbying capital Who is lobbying in Brussels? Modern Functions of Lobbying Already present from the region Proposal to create a Macedonian lobby office MBB – the PPP solution The MBB membership services, rights & duties Profile of SBRA: model and partner for MBB

Brussels - world capital of lobbying With over 3,000 organisations and 16,500 resident lobbyists Brussels surpassed Washington. Lobbying - a relatively new profession in Europe - still regarded suspiciously, but already academic subject. Since mid-1980s EU reached stage of Single Market and about 80% of economic legislation is adopted in Brussels. Positive function gradually accepted, codification and Transparency Directive.

Structure of Lobbying Organisations Employed European professional associations, national federations Corporations Legal firms Consultants specialized on EU matters Regional and city representation offices Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) Trade union associations Research centres and institutes TOTAL TOTAL +/ /

Functions of Modern Lobbyists Functions of Modern Lobbyists Besides directly influencing legislators lobbyists perform numerous “supporting” activities:Besides directly influencing legislators lobbyists perform numerous “supporting” activities: Gathering, evaluating, interpreting and disseminating relevant information and documents;Gathering, evaluating, interpreting and disseminating relevant information and documents; Briefing and educating clients;Briefing and educating clients; Consulting clients;Consulting clients; Networking and media management;Networking and media management; Providing logistical support.Providing logistical support. Difference between traditional and modern, professional lobbying is in analytical approach and scientifically based communication.Difference between traditional and modern, professional lobbying is in analytical approach and scientifically based communication.

Lobbyists from Western Balkans Already present in good number – out of 46 offices from 12 new members and 5 countries of ex-YU - 11 lobbying offices established:Already present in good number – out of 46 offices from 12 new members and 5 countries of ex-YU - 11 lobbying offices established: 6 from Croatia6 from Croatia 3 from Serbia3 from Serbia 1 from Montenegro1 from Montenegro 1 from Bosnia-Herzegovina1 from Bosnia-Herzegovina Though with limited staff (mostly 1-2 people) and various intensity of activities, these lobbyists play an important role in preparing their stakeholders for Accession to EU.Though with limited staff (mostly 1-2 people) and various intensity of activities, these lobbyists play an important role in preparing their stakeholders for Accession to EU. They also support building the “European image” of their respective countries in EU institutions and member states.They also support building the “European image” of their respective countries in EU institutions and member states.

Macedonian Brussels Bureau - MBB ECPD Regional Institute for Development Studies in Skopje proposed the creation of a PPP type lobbying office to jointly represent interests of Macedonian business, research, and local communities. The initiative has received a very strong, positive response, including the Government, Macedonian Economic Chamber, City of Skopje, Komercijalna banka, University of Skopje, Alkaloid, and others. Feasibility Study proposed MBB to be established in a few months and start servicing its members with the outsourcing support of Slovenian Business & Research Association (SBRA) with 9 years of successful experience in Brussels.

MBB Membership Benefits MBB Membership Benefits Information, support and guidance to EU funding (Community Programmes and initiatives, IPA); Information, support and guidance to EU funding (Community Programmes and initiatives, IPA); An independent source of information on EU legislation and its actual implementation; An independent source of information on EU legislation and its actual implementation; a lobby in Brussels to intervene in EU institutions; a lobby in Brussels to intervene in EU institutions; an office to represent them in relevant European associations; an office to represent them in relevant European associations; a networking and promotional platform in Brussels; a networking and promotional platform in Brussels; a base for logistical support when visiting Brussels; a base for logistical support when visiting Brussels; a mechanism for »reverse lobbying« in Skopje on EU- related issues. a mechanism for »reverse lobbying« in Skopje on EU- related issues.

MBB Membership rights and obligations MembershipCategoryConsultancy Hours per year Votes in MBB Council Annual Fee (in €) Founding member ,000 Member A Category ,000 Member B Category 50110,000

SLOVENIAN BUSINESS AND RESEARCH ASSOCIATION (SBRA) - proposed partner to MBB - SLOVENIAN BUSINESS AND RESEARCH ASSOCIATION (SBRA) - proposed partner to MBB - Avenue Lloyd George 6 B-1000 Bruxelles Tel.: Fax:

SBRA membership Established 12 maja 1999 as international non-profit association and registered in Belgium (aisbl, 17/6/1999) FOUNDERS Economic Chamber of SLovenia University in Ljubljana University in Maribor Institute Jožef Stefan Cooperative union of Slovenia Finansial suppor by: Ministry of Higher Learning, Science and Technology Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food MEMBERS Krka d.d. Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry Nova ljubljanska banka d.d. Riko, d.d. Sava d.d. Chamber of Craft and Enterpreneurship City of Ljubljana City of Novo mesto City of Maribor City of Nova Gorica City of Celje City of Ptuj Primorska university, Koper Faculty for Chemistry and Chemical Technology Istrabenz, d.d. Alianta, d.o. Graduate School for Design Korona Gea College Niko transport, d.d. Perutnina Ptuj, d.d. Nafta-Geoterm

SBRA’s Identity Card Staff: 6 people Membership: 5 founders, 2 Category A, 20 Category B Membership fees: 50,000 and 25,000 EUR yearly Budget: 800,000 EUR Share of budget earned through EU projects: 20-25% Premises: 380 m2 Brussels-based Networks coordinated: NIROC – Network of Interest Representation Offices from New Members and Candidate Countries NIROC – Network of Interest Representation Offices from New Members and Candidate Countries EREF – European Regional Economic Forum EREF – European Regional Economic Forum RIBN – Research, Innovation and Business Network for Central and South Eastern Europe RIBN – Research, Innovation and Business Network for Central and South Eastern Europe