John Steinbeck would have had ample material for a modern novel these past weeks: Just in time for Volkswagen’s Annual Brussels reception, the car company’s monkey business came to light – and even more appalling, fume tests on humans. Reputation is now probably far below tobacco. With information known for quite a while already and apparent approval of senior management (not only of VW, but also of Daimler and BMW), VW has not learned much about crisis management from the past years: suspending their Public Affairs chief will not do the trick.
The other appalling matter uncovered in the past week is the Brussels bubble gender pay gap: Ellwood & Atfield’s salary report states that women (supposedly the better communicators) receive 16% less salary than men in the same position, and men are heading 70% of the top jobs. High time to change this. Hence initiatives such as the Brussels binder, which was launched with a huge and vibrant reception at the German representation of Hesse, are needed. The reception saw about 600 participants – an overwhelming majority of young women, which shows the awareness amongst them. More mid-senior and senior women will hopefully come on board or get active in other ways. Another recent example for European ignorance on this matter: over the next two years, two-thirds of the overwhelmingly male top management roles at the European Central Bank are to be changed, and it currently does not look like a change towards more diversity.
The Germans had their own way last week to counter bad news: the annual German carnival party took place on Thursday. In Germany, the party continues until Tuesday, and this seems to have helped the political parties negotiating a coalition treaty: Germany might finally get a new government, which, after a lot of fussing around, looks astonishingly similar to the previous one. A fact that might still pose a challenge: the Social Democrat party need approval from their members for the coalition agreement, and this is not at all certain.
Meanwhile in Brussels, elections and coalitions cause new changes of seats in the European Parliament: European S&D leader Gianni Pittella is already going national and will run for the Italian senate, and European Parliament President Antonio Tajani is Berlusconi’s first choice as Italian Prime Minister, should his party come up first in the elections. First rumours around Brussels on Pitella’s replacements are making the rounds, amongst them German Udo Bullmann, Portuguese Maria Joao Rodrigues and Slovenian Tanja Fajon.
Good that the European Commission is keeping an eye on producing some content: last week, the European Blockchain Observatory was launched. Whilst the EU institutions are not known for always being at pace with quickly developing technology, it is reassuring that they are trying.
If you want to make a difference in this business or another sector, find attached some jobs and as usual more on politjobs.eu!
Irina Michalowitz – im@politapps.eu
MEP Claudia Tapardel offers Trainee position
A full time basis Trainee position is available in the office of Claudia Tapardel, MEP in the European Parliament, Brussels. MEP Ana-Claudia Tapardel is a Romanian S&D member of the Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN) and Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO). She is the Co-Chair of the Intergroup on the European Tourism Development (…)
Ihre Tätigkeitsschwerpunkte: Entwicklung und Verfassen der Positionen des Verbandes zu europäischen Rechtsetzungsvorhaben und Einbringen dieser Positionen in das Gesetzge-bungsverfahren insbesondere beim Europäischen Parlament; Ggf. Begleitung und Kommentierung der Umsetzung europäischer Richtlinien in deut-sches Recht; Einleitung und Begleitung von Beschwerdeverfahren zur Eröffnung von Vertragsverlet-zungsverfahren bei der Europäischen Kommission; Monitoring der für die Entsorgungswirtschaft relevanten Entwicklungen auf europäischer Ebene (EuGH-Rechtsprechung, Politikinitiativen der Europäischen Kommission, etc.) (…)
European Association of Long-Term Investors seeks Policy Officer
Main tasks and responsibilities: Follow relevant developments inside the EU Institutions; Preparation of internal workshops and meetings; Support to the General Secretary; Support in the preparation of ELTI positions; Preparation of discussions and meetings with representatives from EU Institutions; Communication with members including content management of the ELTI extranet and membership management; Manage and develop ELTI‘s on-line presence; Bookkeeping and archiving of the association; Cooperation with Belgian authorities and the external auditor (…)
European Crop Protection Association seeks Government Affairs Manager
Responsibilities: Read the political environment; demonstrate awareness and understanding of political dynamics and trends that might impact the business; Within the Public Affairs team, in collaboration with issue managers and policy teams, support the establishment of strategic direction for ECPA’s advocacy work and its translation into specific objectives and action plans, aligning the association network to support the advocacy priorities; Monitor, plan and manage advocacy needs within the Public Affairs Team and with relevant issue managers on issues impacting the crop protection business; Develop and implement actions that generate support for a fact-based discussion about the benefits of crop protection among the industry’s key stakeholders, including at public meetings and events (…)
Primary Requirements: Assist BSA member companies in developing and executing on BSA policy priorities that advance the deployment of software services, such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, blockchain, Internet of Things, and cloud computing; Advise BSA and members on substantive areas of focus, including privacy, cybersecurity, intellectual property, procurement, data economy and digital trade; Represent industry and advocate BSA objectives and positions in related policy debates with relevant EU Commission, European Parliament, Agencies and national government representatives (…)
35 Square de Meeûs – B-1000 Brussels – T +32.2.89996-71
Irina Michalowitz – Country Manager EU – im@politapps.eu
Imprint: polisphere-Chairwomen Dr. Sandra Busch-Janser, Register AG Charlottenburg VR 30889B, Tax 27/675/56232
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