Interview with Paul d'Amécourt y Oliver Benoistrepresentatives of Vae Solis Europe:
What are the specialities of Vae Solis Europe?
The Vae Solis Europe team specializes in Public Affairs Europeans. We are based in the capital of the EU and at the heart of the European decision-making process. We are an international and multidisciplinary team, passionate about the EU decision-making process.
We help companies, federations, associations and regions to better understand the EU decision-making process and to make their voices heard.
Why is Brussels so important?
Brussels is the capital of the European Union and is home to the European Commission, the Council and the European Parliament (with Strasbourg).
The EU institutions are composed of just under 50,000 civil servants or their equivalent, which is relatively few compared to any national administration. There is a great need for civil society expertise to regulate complex EU affairs.
In sectors such as environment, technology, finance, fisheries, digital or agriculture, more than 50% of decisions are taken at the European level. All countries have built strong teams to promote their national interests, some regions (such as Bavaria or Île-de-France) have permanent representation in Brussels and businesses, associations, federations, universities and NGOs are involved in the EU debate.
What do you offer?
We help our clients understand and react to the impact of European and national legislation on their business. It is important to us to give them the means to participate in decision-making processes, while providing them with the tools to build influential outreach campaigns. We help our clients build legitimacy and momentum by creating and managing coalitions of interest. As our clients cannot always be in Brussels, we represent them at EU meetings and can be their eyes and ears.
What sectors do they cover?
We work with clients at the corporate level, as well as with federations, start-ups, but also with public institutions. Our strength lies in helping them build a European strategic vision and then launching an operational influencing campaign. We are generalists and our clients generally recognise our expertise in the fields of digital and data technology, circular economy, services, fintechs and commerce.
We have a diverse team with an international background and degrees in economics, philosophy, law and EU policy. The whole team has a practical approach.
Why is it a good time to talk at EU level?
A new Parliament was elected last May, with 61% of new MEPs, a new President of the European Commission was appointed and the new Commissioners-designate will be heard by the European Parliament between 30 September and 8 October in Brussels.
A first work programme for the European Commission has been published and there will be a great need for input from the whole of civil society. Regional, national and European actors who wish to include changes in European legislation, strategically, have a unique opportunity to act at a very early stage of the decision-making process and to present their arguments in a democratic way.
How to build a message at the European level?
The EU decision-making process is relatively slower than at national level, mainly due to the number of actors that need to be consulted. When companies and federations develop messages at EU level, they need to have a long-term strategic vision that needs to be planned in advance. This is why it is so important for a company based in Spain, such as Proa Comunicación - which understands the priorities of a local company - to work hand in hand with experts in Brussels to create relevant messages and campaigns that have a long-term impact.
For more information see: Vae Solis o Lighthouse Europe