New formats, new institutions, new connections:
Opportunities for associations in the new Europe
Thursday 22 October 2009 Hotel Amigo, Brussels
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On October 22, 50 association and meetings professionals gathered at the Hotel Amigo in Brussels, Belgium under the auspices of the European Society of Association Executives to discuss the changes in the European Institutions resulting from the fast-evolving landscape of European policy and institutions. The event was chaired by ESAE President and Director General of the International Fertilizer Association Luc Maene.
Associations play a key role by helping to interpret policy and inform decisions made by the commission. The European Union is itself an association and offers scope to give examples and to learn form associations as well. – “Targeted issues – targeted results” is an approach that works to unify information eliminating form the Commission, particularly in the current climate.
Single digital markets – and overcoming any obstacles to create this – such as climate change, and human justice – are today’s priorities for the EU.
Jeroen Jansen, International Director Global Government Relations, DLA Piper UK LLP
European Institutions are dependant on stakeholder groups. The Commission emphasis’s good governance, stressing participation, openness and transparency. This sets a framework for interaction, and the Transparency Initiative is a guideline to ensure that interest representation is taken into account fairly and justly.
The challenge for associations in Europe is how to present a common position to the Commission – but how to achieve this? Jansen asked: “Will your position papers reflect the ‘high ground’ – strategic board advice and analysis – or reflect the ‘lowest common denominator’ – the needs of the widest stakeholder groups?” Both approaches have validity. For lobbying practices to be effective, it is critical to (a) focus on objectives, (b) to prepare, (c) to be honest, transparent, consensus-building and to market properly.
Today, it is estimated that there is a total number of 1,200 associations in Brussels and about 1,400 lobbyists
Filippo Addarii, Executive Director, Euclid Network
An impressive range of third sector leaders in Europe and beyond are members of Euclid – part of ACEVO, the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations. The association exists to support third sector professionals by fostering partnerships with national bodies in Europe. Increasingly, the building of partnerships in Europe is key to sustaining civil society, and to enhancing its impact on European-wide decision making and good practice.
The organisation focuses on methods to exchange leadership skills across countries and across industry sectors, emphasising good practice and governance, and sustainable funding.
Julia Bateman, Head of Brussels Office, Law Society of England and Wales
Cooperation is built on training, community building, and gaining consensus. A discussion followed on helping members to navigate through the current crisis, by exchanging best practice advice on matters, such as negotiation and renegotiating contracts, (bank) fees, or employment –and such benefits as offering umbrella professional indemnity insurance for members (interim), stressing the advantages of setting up a practice advice/help line, giving ethics advice, distributing practice notes and handbooks (looking at issues such as VAT, , money-laundering, mortgage fraud, and information security)
In an increasingly regulatory climate, the U.S federal government is looking to change tax laws, which now favour non-profits, and ASAE is taking action, advocating and lobbying to government.
Trends show that associations follow unemployment figures rather than the stock market in this climate. Clubs and memberships are down following unemployment trends – even though economic indicators point to an upswing. In the USA at least, this upswing will be somewhat delayed, ASAE predicts.
ASAE is also finding that its emphasis on social responsibility and sustainability guidelines add to its value to members – supporting their needs and expectations.
ASAE now supports 20,000+ members and there are an estimated 1.8 million non profits in the USA – not including religious organisations. Of these, about 89,000 groups are associations and business societies
Demand for service is up, as is volunteering and fundraising activity. But budgets for donations as well as public spending are down. Fewer people do more work. Donor-based organisations are increasingly sophisticated in the way they approach potential supporters.
What is key to successful fundraising?
• Make a clear case for support
• Ensure strong leadership
• Seek and confirm sources of support/revenue
• Be prepared: analyse and act on the development pipeline, access all options.
Organisations that traditionally receive 90% of funding from the state will find themselves in a difficult position in today’s climate. Increasingly, diversification will be key for most organisations in order to ensure that they access maximum funds from donations and givers/relationships will be more important over time, and long term partnerships will be a critical part of a long-term fundraising strategy for any forward-thinking association.
Esa Härmälä, Director General, EFMA
The European Union is not like a national government. The question was asked: “Does the EU have the mandate to make decisions?” The answer is: less than most national governments, but the role and powers of the EU will grow as a result of the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty.
Heads of governments cannot make deals ‘over the heads of’ the European Parliament anymore. What is the role of the Commission’s new President? How strong a role should this be? A Blair appointment may be too high profile.
Enlargement (27 member states) means individual countries may need to limit individual sovereignty.
Tim Caswell, UIA and Marcel Vissers, Headquarters magazine
Statistics – do we use them enough? Right now, ICCA and UIA publish statistics and UIA has been doing this for the past 100 years. On a positive note, Paris, Canada and some cities in Australia appear higher on the list of popular meetings destinations. But other statistics can paint a different picture – depending on interpretation.
The audience then broke into small groups to discuss the main points of the day and how to translate the ideas discussed into positive actions.
“Co-op – etition” was ventured as a way forward – a combination of cooperation and competition and a term invented by conference delegates. How can European institutions be cooperative and competitive at the same time? “It is hoped that the current financial crisis will encourage cooperation as the way to achieve some immediate gains with lasting effects.”
