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Businesses centralize EU lobbying

Czech House unites former disparate state interests

By Victor Velek
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
October 17th, 2007 issue

COURTESY PHOTO
Crowds celebrated in Brussels Oct. 11 with a performance by the band Čechomor.
BRUSSELS
A lively party burst out on a street in Brussels, Belgium, to celebrate the unification of Czech political and economic interests at the heart of the European Union, Oct. 11. Politicians and businesspeople gathered to toast the opening of the city’s Czech House, a new center concentrating the country’s previously scattered EU lobbying interests.
With the Czech Republic’s EU presidency fast approaching, the government decided it needed to provide a single home for the 100 extra diplomats and experts who will stream to Brussels in connection with the presidency, said Alexandr Vondra, deputy prime minister for European affairs.
“In these weeks, we are entering the hot phase of the preparation for the Czech European Union presidency in 2009,” he said.
But besides housing an overflow of diplomats, Czech House will now also be home to a variety of largely state-controlled business interests, all looking to improve their representation on the European scene.
Residing in the house are Czech Airlines (ČSA), the energy company ČEZ and business organizations like CzechTrade, CzechTourism and the Czech Business Representation (CEBRE), a body run by business associations like the Economic Chamber (HKČR) to lobby for local entrepreneurs’ interests.
ČEZ has had an office in Brussels since 1999, but the establishment of a lobbying hub here in the red-brick office building located on the corner of Rue du Trône and Rue Caroly prompted the company to change its long-established address, said Alan Svoboda, the company’s chief sales officer.
“This common home will strengthen the mutual cooperation of Czech firms and institutions, and should make our communication more effective,” he said.
The importance of physically sharing a workspace, even in this Internet age of video conferences and instant messaging, cannot be underestimated, said Jaromír Drábek, head of the Economic Chamber.
“Our experience is that joint communication and cooperation within a single building is much more fruitful than cooperation between bodies based in separate addresses around town,” he said.
The main goal of the CEBRE office is to have direct access to information on new EU legislation and hot business topics being discussed by the European Union’s top brains, according to Drábek.
“It is a way to get precious information sooner — and to influence what is being decided in Brussels,” he said.
Not only will the office provide a useful tool for networking, lobbying and information gathering, but it also organizes programs allowing businesses to better understand the labyrinthine ways and means of EU policymaking.
“Our internship program for Czech firms provides an opportunity for top managers to get an invaluable glimpse into how EU organizations really work,” he said.
Regional affairs
Also occupying the first floor of Czech House are many of the country’s self-governing regions. Out of 14 regions, eight opted to move in, while the others remained at their long-standing homes in Brussels.
The EU office of Central Bohemia is one region that chose to remain outside Czech House.
“Our office is well established,” said its head, Petr Hnízdo. “We pay a reasonable rent. In Czech House, we would have paid the same money for a less spacious office.”
While the Czech business community in Brussels primarily focuses on EU economic legislation and lobbying, the regional staffs are closely monitoring how best to apportion EU funds.
Hnízdo’s office was the main agent in negotiating the face of the new Regional Development Program, which will send some 15.8 billion Kč ($813 million) to Central Bohemia in the following six years.
Brussels is also a great source of inspiration and networking opportunities, Hnízdo said.
“There are more than 300 offices representing Europe’s regions,” he said. “Through them, I can visit parts of Sweden, Portugal or Greece in just one day to see what projects they are preparing and to get some inspiration. Brussels is the European continent transformed into a single city.”

Victor Velek can be reached at vvelek@praguepost.com


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