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Burson-Marsteller Brussels Code of Conduct

EPACA Code of Conduct and Internal Transparency Rules

Burson-Marsteller is a founder member of EPACA – the European Public Affairs Consultancies’ Association – and a signatory to the group’s code of conduct covering lobbying of the EU institutions.

EPACA was established to:

• Promote and maintain the highest professional standards in the EU public affairs profession
• Secure compliance with EPACA’s code of conduct
• Promote and gain recognition of EPACA within EU institutions as a responsible organisation representing the interests of EU public affairs consultancies.

A professional practices panel has been established by EPACA to investigate any alleged breaches of the code of conduct by member consultancies.

All activities undertaken by Burson-Marsteller consultants MUST be fully compliant with the code of conduct which is set out below. EPACA’s code is identical to the rules set out in Annex IX of the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament.

EPACA Code

“In their dealing with the EU institutions, public affairs consultants shall:

• identify themselves by name and by company;
• declare the interest represented;
• neither intentionally misrepresent their status nor the nature of their inquiries to officials of the EU institutions nor create any false impression in relation thereto;
• neither directly nor indirectly misrepresent links with EU institutions;
• honour confidential information given to them;
• not disseminate false or misleading information knowingly or recklessly and shall exercise proper care to avoid doing so inadvertently;
• not sell for profit to third parties copies of documents obtained from EU institutions;
• not obtain information from EU institutions by dishonest means;
• avoid any professional conflicts of interest;
• neither directly nor indirectly offer nor give any financial inducement to
  • any EU official, nor
  • Member of the European Parliament, nor
  • their staff;
• neither propose nor undertake any action which would constitute an improper influence on them;
• only employ personnel subject to the rules and confidentiality requirements of the EU institutions.”

Internal Burson-Marsteller Rules

To ensure full compliance with the transparency aspects of the code the following internal Burson-Marsteller rules also apply:

• All e-mails, letters, faxes on behalf of clients/enquiries on behalf of clients must under the name of the signatory include “consultant to xxxx client (www.xxxxclient.com)” followed by the usual Burson-Marsteller address/contact details.
• When phone calls are made on behalf of clients the name of the client interest must be declared. (Once a relationship has been established on behalf of a client with an individual and they clearly understand this it is not necessary to repeat the client interest
• In meetings on behalf of clients the name of the client interest must be declared. (Once a relationship has been established on behalf of a client with an individual and they clearly understand this it is not necessary to repeat the client interest at every meeting.) This rule applies in public meetings such as conferences, seminars etc where, for example, a question is asked on behalf of a client.
• Where an alliance has been established by a client or group of clients to lobby in support of their interests, but their involvement may not be obvious, their financial support for the group must additionally be disclosed in all circumstances set out in points 1-3 and in any materials created to promote such an alliance or its positions on issues.

Failure to comply with the code of conduct or the internal transparency rules will be treated as a disciplinary offence.