Public Affairs / Strategic Government Relations

FIPRA’s core business is public affairs also known as government relations. We use integrated communication at the local, regional, national or international level to achieve your – our client’s – objectives. Our solutions are always tailor made; we have no “templates” except one: we organize our teams to meet your specific needs, not the other way around.

Therefore virtually in any country in Europe, and centrally at the EU in Brussels, we advise companies every day on how best to engage with government or regulatory bodies on specific policy issues that concern them – issues that usually will have a direct impact on the bottom line.

We provide a full range of public affairs services. These include:

• Identifying and following public policy issues of concern to you
• Developing the overall strategic public affairs plans and timelines to engage on those issues
• Identifying key political, regulatory, official audiences and competitors or third parties concerned with your issues
• Establishing the views held on your issues by key audiences and third parties
• Developing your public affairs messages and then drafting and distributing correspondence & briefing material, or advocating those messages
• Tactical support and implementation, including arranging meetings with key political audiences and contacts with relevant third parties
• Providing of intelligence and feedback – “eyes and ears”
• Identification of potential further issues along the way – avoiding surprises
• Co-ordination of media messages consistent with your public affairs

Public Affairs Research & Analysis

The Policy Audit: What affects you?

A Policy Audit is a very comprehensive study identifying and detailing all significant policy areas which may have an impact on any aspect of a client’s operations. FIPRA pinpoints adopted, proposed and anticipated laws and regulations. The Audit ensures that you have not missed a threat to your way of doing business, or a powerful opportunity to use the political environment to your advantage. Once completed, a Policy Audit makes it easier to rank issues in order of priority, allows forecasting and an assessment of public policy trends affecting any part of the business, and enables timely and proactive influencing of the policy debate.

Political Profile Survey: What do they think of you?

The political profile survey is a sensitive tool to measure, benchmark and evaluate communication between a company or organisation and its political audience. FIPRA evaluates a client’s image among policy makers and opinion formers through a unique method and often with unique access. A client’s image can also be measured against that of rivals or competitors. The client gains insight into his political profile and can use the information as a benchmark against which to measure and improve his Public Affairs and wider communication strategy.

The Monitor: The Early Warning Instrument for keeping ahead

FIPRA monitors policy developments for specific clients and assesses their impact on markets or operations. FIPRA can monitor both national and European Union developments comprehensively at all levels and in all institutions. We are usually also able to provide information on the positions of relevant rival interests, whether they are political players, trade associations, competitors or other players.

The Policy Brief: Understanding the Wider Context

A Policy Brief is a report analysing overall developments within a particular policy area - for example, Competition Policy. Within a Policy Brief, FIPRA will asses the scope and impact of national and EU regulation on the policy, as well as the attitudes and positions taken by political actors and other relevant opinion formers including, for example, relevant case law. A Policy Brief raises awareness and understanding of the wider policy environment within which specific issues are set. Such an understanding is essential in the development of a forward-thinking long-term corporate Public Affairs strategy.

Issue Brief: The Specific Detail

An Issue Brief is an outline of the facts and conditions concerning one particular political issue, for example, the raising of a specific tax. FIPRA identifies relevant national and EU regulation, as well as the positions of political actors and relevant opinion formers with regard to the target issue. The client is able to assess threats, opportunities and, under guidance from FIPRA, the potential impact of the target issue on his business objectives.

Competition Audit: What are your competitors up to?

A Competition Audit is a survey of your competitors and their activities in the political arena. FIPRA gathers intelligence on the formal and informal initiatives of your competitors who may be trying to influence regulations to their own legal advantage. The information provided enables the client not only to stay ahead of the competition but to plan his public policy strategy with that information in mind.