European Centre for Public Affairs

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"The European Centre for Public Affairs Ltd (ECPA), founded in 1986 at Templeton College, Oxford, is a not-for-profit organisation under English law. It is run by an Executive Director, supported by a small staff. The ECPA Management Board brings together its corporate members and academics to advise the Executive Director on programme development and research topics.

The ECPA has particular expertise in public affairs practice in the European Union. It works closely with the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Presidency and national governments of the Union to develop understanding of the evolving process of governing Europe. It teaches introductory and specialist programmes on public affairs practice in the Union's institutions. ECPA Government Training teaches an extended series of seminars for national Presidencies and courses for civil servants from the applicant states. ECPA Civil Society works with NGOs and others in the Third Sector." [1]

This organisation which was "founded to promote religious and spiritual lifestyles" (Mail on Sunday, August 15th 1999)

The EPCA also runs courses and training for government officials. Its website boasts close relations with Her Majesty's Government and other main governments includig those in Central and Eastern Europe. The EPCA also highlights its connections within Brussels.

Lobbying for lobbying

The ECPA exist to defend the lobbying industryand is attempting to engage in the debate about regulation of lobbyists. In June 2006 PR Week reported that the Centre:

is to solicit proposals from consultancies on how they would improve the image of public affairs... with the winning programme provided pro bono.

The subterranean and deceptive tactics used by lobbyists mean it has a poor public image, as the ECPA recognises:

ECPA deputy chairman Michael Burrell said it was 'important that the industry promotes and defends itself'. Burrell said 'it is a close to insuperable challenge to actually promote positive news stories about what (the PA industry) does'. But, he added, when the media do unearth negative stories about the PA industry, its representative bodies could use them to try and 'seize the opportunity to talk about how we operate'.[2]

... and lobbying for business

The ECPA also performs a function in alerting corporations to the need for training in EU procedures and in the need for lobbying services. This has been so from the beginning. For example in 1988 the Financial Times reported the views of Tom Spencer:

Retailers were unaware of and unprepared for the enormous changes in the business environment that would result from a single European market in 1992, according to Mr Tom Spencer, an executive director of the European Centre for Public Affairs, Templeton College, Oxford... He was addressing retailers at a conference on the internationalisation of retailing held by Coopers & Lybrand, the international accountancy firm.[3]

Management

Chairman - Erik Jonnaert, General Manager External Relations Western Europe, Procter & Gamble.

Deputy Chairmen

Executive Director - Tom Spencer Visiting Professor of Public Affairs, Brunel University

Members

Its members, as listed on its website include:

"Corporate membership is open to any company operating in Europe. There is an annual membership fee of Euro 7750." [4]

Conferences and events

  • The State of Public Affairs 2005: 4th ECPA Annual Conference: Putting the EU Puzzle Together? Conference organised by the European Centre for Public Affairs, held on February 17 at the Dorint Hotel in Brussels, Boulevard Charlemagne 11-19. To register: www.publicaffairs.ac or for further information: Ron Kingham, tel: 00 44 870 444 2760 or e-mail: conferences@publicaffairs.ac[5]
  • "Why don't Governments do what business wants them to?" A two-day seminar, 27-29 June 1990, at Wiston House, Steyning, West Sussex, organised by the European Centre for Public Affairs. Speakers include Commission Vice-President Sir Leon Brittan. Details from Adrienne Pratt, ECPA, Templeton College, Oxford OX1 5NY. Tel: 0865-735422. Fax: 0865-736374.[6]

Notes

  1. ^ 'ECPA LOOKS TO LIFT INDUSTRY IMAGE', PR week, June 23, 2006, SECTION: PUBLIC AFFAIRS; Pg. 9
  2. ^ 'Charlie's main aim: Black Dog' Mail on Sunday 15 August 1999
  3. ^ Maggie Urry, Financial Times, July 9, 1988, Saturday, UK News; Pg. 5
  4. ^ ECPA, Corporate membership, accessed February 2007
  5. ^European Report, 'EUROPEAN CONFERENCES' February 16, 2005, No. 2937
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