Cheese and wine – the way to win friends in Strasbourg

By Martin Banks

Date: 22/09/05

What might Tintin, infanticide, Bilbao and the information society have in common?

All were the subject of social events at the European Parliament in Strasbourg in the first of September's plenary sessions.

Their objective was to catch the attention of everyone from MEPs and officials and journalists - and just about anyone else who happened to be passing the receptions/exhibitions/dinners which took place during the four-day plenary.

Clinking wine glasses, buffet food and civilised chit-chat have become a familiar feature of Parliamentary life.

Each month, many of the 1,000-plus Brussels-based lobbyists decamp to Strasbourg in the hope of influencing the assembly's 732-elected legislators.

So does the seemingly endless round of cocktail parties and receptions held at the Parliament, whether in Brussels or Strasbourg, actually achieve anything?

To some, they present a vital opportunity to discuss issues with an MEP in the hope of influencing legislative proceedings. They offer a chance to develop a network and peddle influence. But to others, such events amount to little more than subsidised free-loading at someone else's expense. Shortly before quaffing his fourth glass of Alsace Tokay Pinot Gris at one of the Strasbourg receptions, one Parliamentary official put it succinctly: "To be honest, I haven't got a clue what this event is about - but the wine is rather nice."

There are others who take things a bit more seriously. An IT lobbyist, among the guests at a dinner and reception given in Strasbourg by the British Chamber of Commerce of Brussels, said: "These sort of events are a great opportunity to network, meet movers and shakers and try to get your point of view across. But I must admit that if you really want to go into more depth on an issue it is better make an appointment to see an MEP at a later date."

Sara Murray, deputy secretary-general of the Chamber, said: "This was our seventh visit to Strasbourg and, yes, it was a success.

"It is a good opportunity for our members to cement relations with MEPs and for MEPs themselves to speak to our members about how future legislation might affect their companies."

A member of staff at the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU, which hosts a reception on 6 October to mark the opening of its new Brussels offices, says the value of such 'social' occasions should not be underestimated: "Whether it is a formal reception or just a casual after-work drink in Place Luxembourg, such intercourse and dialogue is vital."

Back at the Parliament in Strasbourg, no expense had been spared at a reception to promote a conference on the information society being held in Bilbao in November.

A large screen had been erected on which recorded messages from well-known Basque personalities, including musician Kepa Junkera and writer Unai Eldrriaga, were struggling to compete for the attention of the assembled audience with the copious amounts of wine and food on offer.

Ibon Mendibelzuk, delegate in Brussels for the Basque region, had come along and was doing his best to use the occasion to drum up tourist trade. "I am here to explain to people who might be thinking of attending the conference that the Basque country is a safe and peaceful place to visit," he said. "How successful that will be is anyone's guess."

The boisterous crowd included a group of Polish interpreters who were clearly enjoying themselves. "I suppose it's good to gather people together like this to get your message across," said one. "But, present company excepted, I suspect some people only come for the food and drink."

The subject matter of the plenary 'socials' is nothing if not varied and, as if to prove the point, a not-so-orderly queue was forming for a piece of a huge chocolate cake at another reception co-hosted by Italian MEP Roberta Angelilli.

That seemed to be of more interest, to some at least, than the aim of the event: developing a European strategy against infanticide.

Article discusses the sense of the numerous social events organised by lobbyists at the European Parliament