East of England European Partnership Brussels Office

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East of England European Partnership Brussels
Office

• Presentation to European Business Forum
• Tuesday, 4 April 2006
• John Fitzgibbon, European Business Adviser,
• Brussels Office

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• If you havent got a strategy, you are just a
  tourist

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Key business stakeholders

• EEDA (EERA, GO-East)
• Business Link service
• Chambers of Commerce
• European Information Centre
• East of England International (UKTI)
• East of England Business Group
• Innovation Relay Centres
• Enterprise Hubs
• Economic Dev. Depts (County Councils)
• Others, e.g. i10

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Brussels Office Services

• Advance Warning, Lobbying, Networking
• Influencing policy developments in the EU
• demystification
• Raising awareness of EU affairs in the region
• Facilitating participation by regional reps in EU
  policy and decision making processes
• Facilitating contact with other parts of the EU
  and future EU
• Identifying sources of EU funding

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This is achieved by

• Organising visits from the region to Brussels
• Facilitating contact with decision-makers
• Maintaining developing a wide range of contacts
  in EU institutions
• Supporting the development of transnational
  partnerships
• Special in-depth briefings and papers

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Future EU business focus

• Structural Funds 2007-13
• Innovation agenda CIP (Lisbon)
• FP7 (strong SME/innovation emphasis)
• Completing the internal market (services)
• Bedding in the enlargement states ( further
  additions)

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Concrete Example how we can help

• Base Camp in Brussels
• Strategic Partner
• Build the brand

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Concrete Example - Projects
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How should we regard EU activity?

• Icing on the cake not core business
• Opportunity to learn from others and test out new
  ideas
• Relationship building with opportunistic
  multiplier effect
• Wraparound existing domestic activity another
  layer to whats already going on
• Visibility shop window

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Routes to market in Brussels

• Industry association
• UK Representation
• Public Affairs
• Regional offices
• Bespoke networks

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Next steps

• Work with whats currently available
• EIC, UKTI, Blink, BO
• Set out what you want to achieve
• projects, promotion, presence
• Give it a chance!

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Links

• www.eastofengland.be
• www.hertseic.co.uk
• www.eeia.com
• www.cec.org.uk
• http//ted.publications.eu.int/official