GREECE TAKES HELM OF EU ON 1ST JANUARY 2014

Greece takes helm of thee EU at a critical time, just months before the end of the current European Parliament. This means that Greece will have less than 4 months to deliver on complicated dossiers, rather than the full six months.

ECONOMIC PROSPECTS FOR EUROPE IN 2014

Europe’s  economy is going to expand very slowly. The European Central Bank (ECB) has stabilized sovereign debt  markets and systemic risk is for now substantially reduced. But growth will not follow early. Most of the south of Europe has nominal unit labor costs well above Germany’s post- reform levels, and the process of reconvergence with common exchange rate is slow and difficult. Reforms to increase structural flexibility and accelerate a structural shift toward the tradable sectors have been limited.

DISTINGUISHING THE SUB-COMPONENTS OF STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

The process through which strategic managers make and implement decisions is strategic management. Here below are interrelated sub-components that are part of the process. They include Government Relations/Public Policy Advocacy, Regulatory Affairs, Strategic Planning and Issue Management and Public Affairs.

Government Relations/Public Policy Advocacy

WHAT POLITICAL BALANCE OF POWER IN THE NEXT EP?

The European Union is today facing an important turn in its history. The political situation in Europe has importantly shifted over the past few years. Indeed in the current context today’s Euro skepticism is often combined with a new highly concerning rise of extreme parties who, despite their many differences, all share at least one important common thread: they are anti-Euro and anti-Europe. It is this dangerous cocktail of skepticism, lack of interest, and national political instability, that most experts are afraid of.

OUTCOME OF THE FULL REVIEW OF THE EU TRANSPARENCY REGISTER

The current Register was set up jointly by the European Parliament and the European Commission in 2011. While it has always been the Parliament's wish that the register should become compulsory, it has proved difficult to find an adequate legal base in the EU Treaty. For this reason the working group called for a proposal by the Commission to adapt the EU Treaty. Failing this, the Commission should formulate a proposal by 2016 on the basis of article 352 of the EU Treaty, which, however, requires unanimity among the EU member states.

CODES OF CONDUCT FOR PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCATES

Codes of conduct are common in many professions and occupations. Codes of conduct provide guidance to individuals on responsible and ethical professional practices. They define rules of behaviour based on core principles and ethical standards for members of the profession or occupation. They increase peer pressure on professionals to comply with certain generally accepted standards. They can also enhance the reputations of individuals by publicizing the principles for which they stand, and provide a means of evaluating the ethics of individuals who practise in the profession.

CROATIA-EU BUSINESS COUNCIL XMAS PARTY

AALEP Chair was invited to the Croatia-EU Business Council's (CEUBC) Christmas Party that took place on 17 December 2013 within the premises of the European Parliament. CEUBC's objective was for the Croatian Business Community to open dialogs and exchange ideas with Croatian members of the European Parliament while enjoying relaxed atmosphere and tasting Croatian food delicacies with a good glass of wine. Mission accomplished. Congratulations to CEUBC and our Croatian colleagues! and thank you for inviting AALEP!

EXTERNAL REPORT ON PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION: IMPLEMENTATION OF INTEGRITY PLANS

The EU Commission has intensified its dialogue on the rule of law with candidate and potential candidate countries. In the reports on these countries, the fight against corruption has been highlighted. The aim of the dialogue on the rule of law is to strengthen benchmarking aimed at enhanced transparency at earlier stages of the accession process as well as building capacities and establishing effective tools in fighting corruption in respective countries.

NEW APPOINTMENTS IN BRUSSELS

  1. Annemarie Jorritsma-Lebbink has been elected President of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR).
  2. Marcel Roy will replace Henning Schoppmann as Secretary-General of the European Association of Public Banks (EAPB) in 2014.
  3. Victor Madrigal-Boloz has been appointed as the new Secretary-General of The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT).
  4.  Duncan Botting has been appointed as Director of the European Utilities Telecom Council  (EUTC).

WHO'S WHO IN THE NEW GERMAN GOVERNMENT

Germany’s new government is a grand coalition of the country's main centre-right and centre-left parties.

Here below is the configuration of the new German Government

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