Fleishman-Hillard in European Union

What is the future of EU public affairs?

admin — Fri, 04 May 2012 06:29:59 +0000

Caroline Wunnerlich, Managing Director of Fleishman-Hillard in Brussels, shares her views on the future of EU public affairs in our latest FH podcast. Celebrating 20 years at the company in 2012, Caroline reflects on the development of public affairs over the last two decades and looks forward to how it will develop in the future.

You can listen to the podcast here.

Europe In The Throes

admin — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:06:04 +0000

Fleishman-Hillard’s James Stevens features in the Spring edition of the World Policy Journal in an article about the importance of Brussels and EU regulation to business. The article, written by the Financial Times’ Brussels correspondent Stanley Pignal, underlines the reach of regulation from Brussels, its positive and negative effects and the importance that global business attaches to advocating in the European Union’s capital.

The article “Europe in the Throes” by Stanley Pignal can be found here.

Transatlantic Economy 2012

admin — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 07:34:42 +0000

Fleishman-Hillard sponsors Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Transatlantic Relations annual survey of US/EU trade and investment “The Transatlantic Economy 2012”.

Launched at the Amcham EU’s 6th annual Transatlantic Conference in Brussels on 29 March 2012, the study emphasizes the continued importance of the US/EU relationship in the global economy. The transatlantic economy creates nearly $5 trillion in commercial sales per year and employs up to 15 million people according to the study. The authors also underline that US investment continues to come to Europe. For example, Ireland has received more US investment since 2000 than the BRICs combined.

Fleishman-Hillard’s Michelle Gibbons is a Vice Chair of the American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union.

An executive summary of The Transatlantic Economy 2012 can be read here.

Event: Transatlantic Energy Futures

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:16:00 +0000

On Wednesday 7 March 2012, Fleishman-Hillard Brussels hosted the book launch of ‘Transatlantic Energy Futures’, followed by a high-level panel discussion on transatlantic energy relations chaired by Dan Baxter, SVP and head of the office’s Sustainability Team. The book was launched by its editor David Koranyi, Non-Resident Fellow at Johns Hopkins SAIS Center for Transatlantic Relations and by András Simonyi, Managing Director of the Johns Hopkins SAIS Center for Transatlantic Relations, to an audience of more than 70 energy enthusiasts.

The panel discussion featured Mark van Stiphout (Member of Cabinet of Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger), Maria da Graça Carvalho (Member of the European Parliament), Gordan Bajnai (former Prime Minister of Hungary), and Robert A. Pollard, Economic Minister-Counselor at the US Mission to the EU.

Panelists discussed a range of topics important to international energy relations, from climate change to security of supply, renewable energy to shale gas. András Simonyi spoke of a “serious disconnection” on energy policy across the Atlantic and proposed strategies to maintain Europe’s attractive energy model. David Koranyi, who presented the book, talked about common interests in EU-US relations and reassured the audience that the picture of transatlantic energy relations is not that pessimistic.

The panel reflected American and European positions on the most pressing energy issues. Gordan Bajnai’s interesting overview of current EU and US policy priorities and the social and financial challenges to EU-US energy relations was followed by Mark van Stiphout’s observations of differences in EU-US interests. MEP Maria da Graça Carvalho presented the European Parliament’s recommendations for transatlantic energy relations. This contrasted positively with Robert A. Pollard’s American perspective of energy policy in Europe.

A short summary of the book, Transatlantic Energy Futures, is available here.

For more information about this event, or if you would like to be kept informed about future energy events, please contact Esther Busscher esther.busscher@fleishman.com

EMEA Public Affairs Consultancy of Year

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:43:50 +0000

The Holmes Report has named Fleishman-Hillard as Public Affairs Consultancy of the Year in its annual Europe, Middle East and Africa awards announced on 6 February 2012.

The award recognizes the leadership of Caroline Wunnerlich and her Brussels team in conducting public affairs for key sectors such as financial services, energy, technology and healthcare as well as the firm’s thought leadership in the Brussels market.

The award comes after Fleishman-Hillard was named pan-European Consultancy of the Year for the last two consecutive years.

Talking ‘Reputation’ at Public Affairs Action Day

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:37:56 +0000

On February 8th, Fleishman-Hillard will lead a panel discussion about reputation as part of the European Public Affairs Action Day in Brussels. Francoise Humbert, Communications Director at CEFIC, the European Chemical Industry Council, and Florence Ranson, Senior Adviser at the European Banking Federation will join Fleishman-Hillard’s Anita Kelly to discuss “How to harness reputation to succeed in Brussels”. The sold-out event brings together the Brussels public affairs community and takes place at the Renaissance Hotel. Full details are available on the event website.

Efficiency, renewables and fossil fuels – What’s the right energy for Europe?

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:10:09 +0000

On 25 January Fleishman-Hillard Brussels organised a roundtable discussion on the future of the EU energy mix, with a particular emphasis on the role that energy efficiency could play in this context. A discussion paper laying down the terms of the debate had been prepared by the FH energy team for the occasion. 50 participants were there to listen to Dagmara Koska, Member of Cabinet of Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger, delivering insights on the Energy Efficiency Directive, probably the most topical issue in the energy field at the moment. Her discussion with Sanjeev Kumar, Senior Associate at E3G also touched upon a variety of subjects, such as financing instruments, the need for affordable energy and the interconnections between the EU ETS, the Renewable Energy Directive and energy efficiency legislation. The event offered the opportunity for participants representing various parts of the energy sector to voice their own views and recommendations on the future of energy policy.

EU Public Affairs conference ‘How Brussels Works’

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:04:44 +0000

On February 9th and 10th the Quadriga University of Applied Sciences and European Agenda will host the EU Public Affairs conference ‘How Brussels Works’ at the Crowne Plaza in Brussels. Fleishman-Hillard’s Digital Strategist Steffen Thejll-Moller will run a workshop on digital and Public Affairs, showcasing a number of traditional Public Affairs needs – be it reaching stakeholders, gathering intelligence, building coalitions – and ways in which to best integrate them with online tools and tactics.

For the complete programme and to register, please visit ‘How Brussels Works’

PR in Europe – a driver for social change?

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:56:24 +0000

Juergen H. Gangoly, Managing Partner of The Skills Group, Fleishman-Hillard’s Austrian affiliate, explains how the economic crisis is bringing about positive change for immigrant communities in Austria – and what his firm is doing to encourage this development.

Read: The Rise and Rise of Ethno PR in Europe

Future of Pensions in the European Union

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:44:08 +0000

Fleishman-Hillard Brussels’ Nick Reinhardt edits a new book on the current and future role of pensions in Europe.

The book addresses the role of European pensions in a changing world, pensions funds in the EU regulatory environment and the role of pensions in the real economy. Contributors to the book include senior industry figures as well as European regulators and policymakers from across the European Union institutions. It was commissioned to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the European Federation for Retirement Provision (EFRP). It is co-sponsored by Fleishman-Hillard, the European Venture Capital Association and Aviva.

Read: Nick Reinhardt Pensions in Europe