In Europe, public affairs, lobbying and advocacy enjoy a dubious reputation. Europe does not have a highly established legislative or cultural tradition in this area yet, and existing regulations sometimes fail to reflect the working reality of those who are considered to be “lobbyists”.

The Class Youngsters

It was not until the EU’s political and institutional landscape was developed, mainly in the second half of the 20^th century, with the signature of the Maastricht Treaty in 1993, that “advocacy” started to develop as we know it nowadays. As the EU further expanded, so did its governance structures, becoming a unique and complex system of policy and decision-making.

Though the European Commission holds most of the decision-making authority, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament play key roles in shaping EU policy. Lobbying is crucial throughout these decision-making processes.

Lobbying Behind Closed Doors?

As lobbying activities are sometimes perceived as opaque, many citizens are suspicious about the role of “interest groups” and their relationships with political representatives,  therefore not understanding the value of public affairs. Public affairs should always be conducted under strict ethical codes, in full transparency and accountability, as interest representation and participation of civil society are essential for good governance, societal progress and democracy.

In this light, the EU has committed to ensuring transparency through different legislative texts, including the creation of transparency registers of the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of the EU. These registers constitute the essential tool that promotes transparency as the engine of an open dialogue between civil society and policymakers.

Transparency can only be understood as the intrinsic value that legitimises public affairs and that overall, enhances public participation to improve legislation and policies. How? Let’s take a deeper look at it.

Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan

The European Beating Cancer Plan, which was launched in February 2021, is a proactive response to the escalating challenges posed by cancer in Europe, further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a prime example of a healthcare policy initiative in the European Union. This plan, which intends to address cancer through prevention, early detection and better access to treatment to improve cancer patients and survivors, received more than 2.000 responses to its public consultation in 2020 from a wide range of civil actors, including doctors and patient organisations (25%). These responses were then taken into consideration by the European Commission to build the final plan that will guide Member States’ policies in the years to come.

Citizens perceive positively the participation of civil society in these feedback and consultation processes, especially the role of doctors and patient organisations in it. However, if we ask around, these actors might not be labelled generally as “lobbies”. Yet, these actors also represent an interest, and therefore, share an objective that they aim to achieve through advocacy.

Building Trust

Transparency allows citizens to see how and by whom decisions are made, and how public resources are allocated. In addition, the fact that individual names, companies, political representatives, and scope of action, among other details are public, reinforces not only greater public scrutiny and trust but also enhances the accountability of all participants in the process. This ensures that power is exercised responsibly by public authorities and allows accountability.

A transparent government also becomes more responsive to the needs and concerns of its citizens, adjusting its policies or actions based on public feedback. This responsiveness is crucial for maintaining the legitimacy of public institutions, as it demonstrates that they are truly serving the interests of the people.

The remaining challenge: Enhancing Communication

In this light, how can the role of public affairs be further expanded and promoted? Beyond transparency, there is a pending challenge of improving citizens’ perception of the value of public affairs in democracies. All public affairs practitioners, civil society groups and advocacy organisations must contribute continuously to increasing general awareness, and understanding that this profession is increasingly essential to ensure accountable, transparent and democratic societies.