The Brussels reputation story – the interplay of public affairs and reputation

Abstract

For companies, reputation is becoming increasingly important while at the same time, reputation is also a fundamental issue for any politician. At the European level especially, it is clear that the EU is paying attention to its reputation among citizens. Reputation has an influence on the share price of companies just as it determines a politician s success or defeat. But what is the significance of reputation at the intersection of business and politics – where, in the context of public affairs, there is direct dialogue between the representatives of various interests on the one hand and politicians or civil servants on the other? What are the characteristics of a good reputation that matter in context of political lobbying? How should an organisation present itself to EU institutions in Brussels in order to earn their trust?