CHANGE AGENTS FOR A FREELANCE EUROPE

BACKGROUND

OFFICIAL LAUNCH• 14 January 2013 at a high level event in the European

Parliament in Brussels.

• The launch followed an invitation from the European Commission to discuss the importance of tackling the Freelance Economy model for the European Union.

EU AFFAIRS FREELANCERS ASSOCIATION A non-profit partnership made of:

1. National organisations representing independent professionals working on European affairs and cross border European projects and

2. End user clients that utilise independent EU affairs professionals and European project managers

3. Public authorities willing to explore how the procurement system could be opened up to freelancers

Our aim is to bring together independent EU affairs professionals, their end user clients and public authorities in a common marketplace to ensure the transfer of services is carried out with mutual benefit.

VISION

THE FREELANCE ECONOMY• Nearly one out of four Europeans is working independently with

40% of the total EU workforce to be independent by 2020.

• Organisations are less compelled to own resources, but place more value on access to networks and talent pools, utilising independent services and external knowledge transfer.

• Organizations are looking to replace fixed costs with variable expenses and often take on-demand approaches to secure access to skilled personnel and competencies on an as-needed basis.

• As we look to 2014, the Freelance Economy will drive change in the way work is done, in the way companies and workers interact, and in the EU policy response.

ASSOCIATION MISSION STATEMENT1. Lay the necessary policy framework conditions and enabling

environment at EU level to mature policies, markets and sectors for the Freelance Economy to become mainstream.

2. Combine the bottom-up approach of several existing European freelance organisations with a top-down focus around EU regulations and funding.

3. Create a critical mass that speaks with a single voice, making the case for European policies that place a greater emphasis on freelancing, as the driving force behind a more prosperous, sustainable and competitive European economy.

MEMBERSHIPEach member agrees to:

• Define an individual voluntary commitment

• Endorse the Association manifesto

• Choose from the yearly activity plan, the activities where it can contribute best.

OBJECTIVES

THE EU AFFAIRS FREELANCERS ASSOCIATION

• Mainstream: campaign to improve the perception of freelancing and visibility of independent EU affairs professionals and their end user clients all over Europe.

• Sustain: increase advocacy strength for fair and sensible regulations, ensuring that freelancing becomes a political priority at European level.

• Scale Up: promote leadership and best practice exchange, research and data of importance to independent EU affairs professionals and support the continuous professional development of freelancers by considering their specific training needs.

• Invest: raise EU funding to kick start relevant pilot projects and platforms all over Europe that enlighten the value of freelancing to the economy and society and assist entry in the freelancing market for both independent EU affairs professionals and end user clients.

1. MAINSTREAM (THROUGH AWARENESS RAISING)

• To utilise social media, public relations and marketing to build the foundation for public support that the Freelance Economy is good for the EU, for businesses and for consumers.

• To commission studies, market research, surveys and interviews on the Freelance Economy in the EU.

2. SUSTAIN (THROUGH ADVOCACY)• To organise public debates and bilateral meetings with key

European, national and other decision makers in the EU, tailoring to them the key messages of the Freelance Economy.

• To track the ongoing implementation and influence EU and Member States policies with a potential impact on freelancing and recommend appropriate regulatory actions.

• To draft position papers, participate in EU Commission consultations, write petitions and open letters to the European Parliament, submit policy recommendations, legislative amendments and take a seat in relevant EU platforms.

3. SCALE UP (THROUGH TRANSFERABILITY)• To unite and organise the community of freelancers in Europe

in cooperation with existing national platforms.

• To provide a forum for collective knowledge exchange and foster cooperation between freelancers in different sectors.

• To facilitate the transferability and scalability of best practice solutions on the Freelance Economy among EU Member States.

4. INVEST (THROUGH EU FUND RAISING)• To kick start pilot initiatives, participate in relevant projects

and explore EU funding opportunities for promoters of the Freelance Economy.

• To assist the EU Commission to design appropriate funding lines for the Freelance Economy under the new EU Multiannual Financial Framework Program 2014-2020.

• To set up public/private partnerships between Freelance Economy platforms and local governments.

INITIATOR

EURO FREELANCERS

Synergic network of independent EU affairs consultants and investors specialised in sustainability, collaborative innovation and crowd-sourcing scalable solutions.

First pan-European network promoting the Freelance Economy.

www.euro-freelancers.eu

@eurofreelancers

CONTACT DETAILS

Lead AdministratorMarco Torregrossa+32 (0)486 71 30 26marco.torregrossa@euro-freelancers.eu

Learn more and sign the online form to support the Association (so far 187 supporters from all over Europe):

Web: Eu Affairs Freelancers Association