Public policy advocacy has become an integral part of the democratic governmental process in many nations. Tens of thousands of individuals and organizations are now paid to represent diverse clients’ interests before governmental institutions, and more are engaging in this activity every day. Their work derives from the fundamental democratic concept that in a democracy every individual and all other legitimate interests corporations; associations; non-profit organizations; religious organizations; etc.

According to a recent survey undertaken by McKinsey fewer than 30 percent of the executives responding said that their external-affairs groups had the organizational setup and talent necessary to succeed. McKinsey surveyed 2,186 executives on external affairs at their companies. The respondents represented the full range of regions, industries, company sizes, tenures, and functional specialties.

People in the U.S. can elude the lobbying law’s registration requirement by simply interpreting the strict statutory definition of “lobbyist” as not applying to them. That is, so long as they are not spending 20% of their time—think one full day in a normal work week—on behalf of any single client for an entire quarter, then they do not need to register or report their lobbying activities. Think about that: do you ever spend one full day per week for three months straight working on any one project at work?

What do you call a trade association that represents lobbyists when lobbyist has become a dirty word. Lobbyists’ lobbying group (formerly American League of Lobbyists) in Washington DC is now to be referred to as Association of Government Relations Professionals (AGRP).

People often ask what is public policy advocacy? The short answer is that it is an educational process and an essential component of any organization that is subject to government regulations. At its core, public policy advocacy is an educational process: educating business and industry leaders about the governmental process; educating officials about the issues important to business or other constituencies; and educating governmental and business leaders, and the public, about the potential consequences of legislation.

The Washington D.C.-based American League of Lobbyists has changed its name. The organization will be known as the Association for Government Relations Professionals to better reflect the range of its members' professions, including government relations, lobbying and public affairs. The goal of  AGRP is apparently to be the voice of an inter-related professional community that is united in working toward open and transparent debates in the formulation of public policy.

Profile raising means helping an organization to build or improve its relationships with government officials. It means supporting organizations wanting to be better known and understood by political stakeholders as they engage with government, parliament or other decision makers.

Public Policy Advocacy means, in a professional capacity, attempting to influence or advising those who wish to influence a government, parliament, legislature, local, regional or at EU level or other public bodies on any matters within their competence.

Public Policy Advocates are those private individuals who in a professional capacity work to influence or advise those who wish to influence, the institutions of a government, in respect to:

Organised on 28 November 2013 on the eve of the 3rd Eastern Partnership Summit of Heads of State and Government, the Eastern Partnership Business Forum will bring together key representatives of the business community and government to address strategic questions ranging from further enhancement of trade, foreign direct investment, boosting of SMEs and developing infrastructure for business success.

The European Union's Partnership Programme aims for stability, prosperity and social development in its immediate neighborhood. Aware of its attractiveness, the EU offers those countries stronger relationships without promising EU membership and urges them to undertake sustainable reforms.