One of my first projects in Brussels was to re-launch a report for a client that had pissed off the Commission.
The client, an American outfit, thought what worked in DC worked in Brussels. They launched a report, that criticised the Commission, and found that the report had little traction with the Member States and the Commission’s doors were closed. The sad thing is they were told this was going to happen but went ahead anyway.
If you choose to pick fights don’t be surprised when the laws of reciprocation come back with a bite.
As politicians and officials are only human, they’ll wait their time and come back and push back with equal enthusiasm. They’ll bide their time, lying in the political weeds, until they get the right chance to exact their reciprocation on those who have done ill of them. I remember one influential S&D MEP who took great relish in cutting dead an initiative that had broad political support, and the support of NGOs and industry, all because one firm had voiced support for the initiative in a private event. Some recent slight by that firm to the MEP was being paid back.
I know of an interest who continues to get a hard time from politicians and regulators. Every chance that comes up, seemingly out of nowhere, a well-aimed regulatory or political shot is fired and hits the mark. When you scratch skin deep, the real reason is clear. Not so long ago, the interest did something that annoyed a lot of people. It embarassed a lot of regulators and politicians, and it got in the press. To this day, the interest finds it hard to say “sorry”. And, for that reason, the political revenge is going to keep on coming and there is nothing that can be done, until the final bit of revenge is extracted.
Trust
There is one key ingredient in how the world really works: Give out trust to get trust back. This operates even for lobbyists.
In the long term, I don’t know of any interest, both for-profit or NGO, that prosper if they are not trusted, and choose to operate outside the mainstream consensus of politicians and officials.