We are happy to announce that on 29 April 2011, Wolf Theiss Sofia took part in a public-political forum ‘Lobbying in the European Institutions’. Organisers of the event were the Hanns Siedel Foundation and The National Association of Municipal Clerks in Bulgaria.

There are countless interest groups representing governments and civil societies that try to lobby the European Union effectively in pursuit of the desired legislation, subsidies and more. The forum was a platform to present the everyday practice of lobbying in Brussels, drawing on extensive research and personal experience. Of key focus was lobbying in the European Commission and the European Parliament.

Viewpoints on behalf of the government were presented by the Minister of EU Funds’ Management, the Deputy Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications and the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works.

Special guest at the event was Prof. Rinus van Schedelen, author of the book “Machiavelli in Brussels: The Art of Lobbying the EU”. He is professor of political science at the Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

The business viewpoint was presented by Senior Associate Neli Nedkova, Wolf Theiss Sofia office, who spoke of the Sofia office experience in influencing decision-making at national and EU level.