3 ECTS credits
75 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 8020287GNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (G) Postgraduate - preliminary level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
Department
ES Academische eenheid
Educational team
Decaan ES (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
18 contact hours Lecture
Course Content

The principles are set in the context of the EU’s history, of the EU procedures, consultation systems and regulation.

The course International lobbying consists of 6 main topics:

  1. EU Lobbying Principles
  2. Policy influence
  3. Relationships of EU Business and Associations
  4. Exploring the Role of Alliances
  5. Lobbying in China
  6. Lobbying in USA

EU Lobbying Principles

What are the main principles for successful lobbying in the European Union (EU)? Who are key players? Which procedures and tactics are essential? How will the changing landscape impact the engagement of European citizens and businesses?

This course will explore the various opportunities for designing and developing an effective influence in the EU’s procedures. Best practices and case studies; Regulations and Codes of Conduct impacting stakeholders and Measuring effectiveness and improvement loop of Directives and Regulations.

Policy Influence

How will a new law in Denmark develop into a European Union (EU) law? Which type of policies might migrate from one country or region to another? What examples illustrate the impact of policy influence between Member States and other players? How can EU professionals anticipate these developments effectively?

Policy measures that are affected by such influence can be of regulatory or legislative nature. Governments or their agencies can now exchange ideas and policies very fast via teleconference, email, meetings and conferences as the result of globalization and information technology. There are different dimensions to this development and each will be covered in this course.

In addition, action groups (Yellow vests protest on taxation, or Ms Thunberg on climate)) play an equally important role to influence decisions on national and EU – if not even global levels.

The EU is responding to the questions asked for more connection to the citizens by

  • Consultation during the design of legislation and regulation
  • Clarifying Comitology process
  • Mandating signing up to the Transparency Register

Relationships of EU Business and Associations

What are the channels of influence in the EU? Why are companies becoming member of trade associations? What added value can associations provide to companies? How does the interest representation of an industry sector or profession take place in practice?

This course will look into business and association landscape on EU level. It will provide the insights on which channels are open and how well-run associations can leverage the business case of companies. The course will look into the practical side of knowledge exchange and explain how businesses and associations position a sector in a pro-active manner and Association governance and structure. Examples of pro-active positioning and of activities undertaken by associations.

Exploring the Role of Alliances

Why are alliances important for successful representation in the European Union (EU)? How do they look like and what are key factors for building up an efficient and effective positioning? What steps do you need to take to have a lasting impact of alliances?

  • Importance of alliances
    • Background of how alliances are developed
    • What is the scope: geographic dimension, value chain, broadness etc
    • Describing the role in the EU’s advocacy
  • Key factors for building up an efficient and effective positioning
  • Ground-rules for any alliance building

This course will feature how alliances are built in a strategic and structural manner and cover the fact that alliances are an essential part of EU advocacy and lobbying. The course includes examples of alliances that are visibly successful. Some alliance opportunities could be considered only for a specific short term objective, some are aimed to fulfill a long term strategic goal and yet others are “ad-hoc”.

Lobbying in China and in USA

Courses 5 and 6 focus on a comparison of Lobbying in the European Union with how lobbying look like in China and the United States: and what are key factors in these countries for building up an efficient and effective positioning?

  • Understanding how China and USA work
  • Exploring the lobbying functions and procedures
  • Analysing latest trends
  • Case Studies
  • Measuring effectiveness and improvement loop
  • Additional references
Course material
Course text (Recommended) : International Lobbying
Additional info

Syllabus compiled by the lecturer. The course materials will be explained and debated with participants in a structured manner. Classes will analyze case studies.

Learning Outcomes

General Competences

By the end of the course, the participants should be able to:

  • Identify the various possibilities to influence
  • Make analysis and knowledgeable choice of best ways going forward
  • Measure and present strategic outcomes
  • Blend EU affairs with other skillsets
  • Identify the various opportunities to broaden the advocacy platform
  • Analyse the ways going forward in building an alliance
  • Understand the key success factors and when to say yes or no to a partner
  • Make sure all ground rules are covered
  • Recognize the dimensions of policy migration
  • Build strategies and tactics to anticipate and deal with policy migration
  • Implement action plans to help the companies, sectors, professions that are affected
  • Understand the relevance of all channels for corporations and stakeholders
  • Identify the key-success factors of an efficient association
  • Analyse strategic benefits and costs

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Written Exam with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Postgraduate Certificate Economic Diplomacy: Standaard traject
Postgraduate Certificate International Trade and Investment: Standaard traject
Postgraduate Certificate Flagship Programme in Economic Diplomacy and International Business: Standaard traject