EU AFFAIRS FREELANCERS ASSOCIATION (EAFA)

The European Affairs Freelancers Association (EAFA) is a collaborative network of independent EU affairs consultants and investors. It consists of National organisations representing independent professionals working on European affairs and cross border European projects; End user clients that utilise independent EU affairs professionals and European project managers and Public authorities willing to explore how the procurement system could be opened up to freelancers

The EU Affairs Freelancers Association has four specific objectives:

1. Awareness: campaign to improve the perception of freelancing and visibility of independent EU affairs professionals and their end user clients all over Europe.
2. Lobbying: increase advocacy strength for fair and sensible regulations, ensuring that freelancing becomes a political priority at European level.
3. Scale Up: promote leadership and best practice exchange, research and data of importance to independent EU affairs professionals and support the continuous professional development of freelancers by considering their specific training needs.
4. Finance: raise EU funding to kick start relevant pilot projects and platforms all over Europe that enlighten the value of freelancing to the economy and society and assist entry in the freelancing market for both independent EU affairs professionals and end user clients.

Activities

Public affairs activities strive to position members as influential interlocutors and included in the official dialogues with the EU institutions. These activities range from feeding regulators with expert advice during consultation procedures to meetings with them at different stages of policymaking development. The ultimate aim is to identify threats and opportunities and remove obstacles to the wealth brought by independent EU affairs professionals.

In addition, the EU Affairs Freelancers Association maintains regular contact with European media to profile its work on all issues affecting the EU affairs freelance environment.

EAFA is  active in the following public affairs areas:

1. Representing the interests of  members towards political institutions at EU and national level;
2. Reporting to members on the latest regulatory developments and forecasting/influencing future EU and global market developments affecting relevant freelance industry segments;
3. Advising key EU policy-makers on the most adequate policies to create value for freelancers and their end user clients;
4. Anticipating legislation having a potential impact on freelance sectors and mobilising  members via working groups to define clear positions on political, technical and economic issues.

The EU Affairs Freelancers Association​ aims to undertake concrete actions, which can be implemented in the short-term and have high local impact. Its activities build upon on-going EU programmes, priorities and best practice examples to be scaled-up.​

Advocacy
The association, together with the members of Euro Freelancers, have excellent connections with Members of the European Parliament, Commission officials, trade unions and European business associations in Brussels. With them they examine policy and technical issues and advocate the interests of independent EU affairs professionals. Through a supply and demand of information, the  primary goal is to gain insight on the policy process and inform the regulators on the potential impact on independent EU affairs professionals of the legislative proposals, striving for the most beneficial regulatory outcome to its members.