Lobby groups
The lobbying industry is one of the city’s fastest growing sectors, with an explosion of dedicated lobbying and consultancy firms.
It is estimated that there are now some 15,000 lobbyists in Brussels, representing interests as diverse as the pharmaceutical industry, the Spanish region of Aragon, and animal protection groups.
As well as hosting lavish receptions for EU professionals, the bigger lobbying companies sponsor many of the public debates and exhibitions that make Brussels such a stimulating place.
A full list of lobby firms and political consultancies can be found in the European Public Affairs Directory. The following is a selection of a few of the more active lobby groups in Brussels.
Association of European Airlines (AEA)
A total of 35 airlines are members of the Association of European Airlines, which works with the European institutions to ensure the sustainable growth of the airline industry.
Avenue Louise 350, 1050 Brussels
Tel: +32 (0)2 639 89 89
Email: media.enquiries@aea.be
Website: www.aea.be
Business Europe
Business Europe is the main horizontal business organisation at EU level representing some 20 million companies from 34 countries. Its main task is to defend the companies' interests via-a-vis the European institutions with the principal aim of preserving and strengthening corporate competitiveness.
Avenue de Cortenbergh 168, 1000 Brussels
Senior adviser, press: Peter VERTESSY
Tel: +32 (0)2 237 65 03
Email: main@businesseurope.eu
Website: www.businesseurope.eu
Committee of Agricultural Organisations in the European Union (COPA)
COPA represents both the general and specific interests of farmers in the European Union. It gathers 60 organisations within the EU area 36 partner organisations from other European countries such as
Rue de Treves 61, 1040 Brussels
Press officer: Amanda CHEESLEY
Email: amanda.cheesley@copa.cogeca.eu
Tel: +32 (0)2 287 27 11
Website: www.copa-cogeca.eu
The Community of European Railways (CER)
The Community of European Railways represents the interests of 76 railways companies to the European Union.
Avenue des Arts 53, 1000 Brussels
Press and Communications manager: Eva BÖCKLE
Tel: +32 (0)2 213 08 90
Email: eva.boeckle@cer.be
Website: www.cer.be
Eurochambres
Eurochambres represents European Chambers of Commerce and Industry in order to strength the voice and the position of European Chambers as significant influencers of EU affairs on all major economic issues.
Chamber House, Avenue des Arts 19, 1040 Brussels
Press officer: Guendalina COMINOTTI
Tel:+32 (0)2 282 08 66
Email: cominotti@eurochambres.eu
Website: www.eurochambres.eu
European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA)
The European Automobile Manufacturers Association represents the interests of 16 European car, truck and bus manufacturers at EU level. Its membership consists of the major international automobile companies, working together in an active association to ensure effective communication and negotiation with legislative, commercial, technical, consumer, environmental and other interests.
Avenue des Nerviens 85, 1040 Brussels
Director communications & public relations: Sigrid DE VRIES
Tel: +32 (0)2 738 73 45
Email: sv@acea.be
Website: www.acea.be
European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC)
CEFIC represents the interests of the European chemical industry. On the European scene, Cefic is the voice of 29,000 large, medium and small chemical companies, representing its members and interacting daily on their behalf with international and EU institutions, non-governmental organizations, the international media and other stakeholders.
Avenue E. Van Nieuwenhuyse 6, 1160 Brussels
Press relations: James PIEPER
Tel: +32 (0)2 676 73 98
E-mail: jpi@cefic.be
Website:www.cefic.be
Eurocontrol (European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation)
Eurocontrol's mission is to develop a seamless, pan-European air traffic management (ATM) system.
Rue de la Fusee 96, 1130 Brussels
Tel:+32 (0)2 729 35 01
Fax:+32 (0)2 729 91 00
Email: press@eurocontrol.in
Press Officer: Kyla EVANS
Tel: +32 (0)2 729 50 95
Email: kyla.evans@eurocontrol.int
Press officer: Lucia PASQUINI
Tel:+32 (0)2 729 34 20
Email: lucia.pasquini@eurocontrol.int
Website: www.eurocontrol.int
The European Consumers’ Organisation (BEUC)
BEUC is an umbrella organisation which defends the interests of all of Europe's consumers. It was one of the first lobbying organisations to set up base in the European capital in a bid to influence the decision-making process.
Rue d'Arlon 80, box 1, 1040 Brussels
Tel:+32 (0)2 743 15 90
Fax: +32 (0)2 740 28 02
Head of Communications: Johannes KLEIS
Communications Officers: John PHELAN and Ophélie SPANNEUT
Tel: +32 (0)2 789 24 01
Email: press@beuc.eu
Website: www.beuc.org
The European Food Information Council (EUFIC)
The European Food Information Council (EUFIC) provides information on food safety and quality to the media, health and nutrition professionals and educators, in a way that promotes consumer understanding.
Tassel House, Rue Paul-Emile Janson 6, 1000 Brussels
Tel: +32 (0)2 506 89 89
Communications manager: Philip SPRINGUEL
Email: philip.springuel@eufic.org / media@eufic.org
Website: www.eufic.org
European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
ETUC represents the common interests of workers and campaigns for an EU with a strong social dimension. At present, the ETUC has in membership 83 National Trade Union Confederations from 36 European countries, as well as 12 European industry federations, making a total of 60 million members.
Boulevard du Roi Albert II 5, 1210 Brussels
Tel:+32 (0)2 224 04 11
Fax:+32 (0)2 224 04 54/55
Head of Communications: Patricia GRILLO
Tel:+32 (0)2 224 04 30
Email: pgrillo@etuc.org
Website: www.etuc.org
European Trade Union Institute (ETUI)
The European Trade Union Institute is an association conducting research and trainings on issues related to labour while building bridges between the academic and research community and the labour movement.
Boulevard du Roi Albert II 5, box 4, 1210 Brussels
Tel:+ 32(0)2 224 04 70
Fax:+ 32(0) 2 224 05 02
Information officer: Denis GREGOIRE
Tel:+32 (0)2 224 05 52
Email: dgregoire@etui.org
Website:www.etui.org
European Women's Lobby
The mission of the European Women's Lobby is the largest umbrella organisation of women's assication in the European Union, working for the promotion of real and effective gender equality and women's rights in all spheres of public and private life.
Rue Hydraulique 18, 1210 Brussels
Tel: +32 (0)2 217 90 20
Fax: +32 (0)2 219 84 51
Communications and Media Officer: Leanda BARRINGTON-LEACH
Tel: +32 (0)488 41 94 21
Email: barrington@womenlobby.org
Website: www.womenlobby.org
