Indeed, the majority of PA bosses (34%) feel that in their sector the recovery has already started, while 22% expect the upturn to come later this year (22%) or in 2011 (27%), according to a new study on the state of public affairs in 2010 compiled by polling and research consultancy ComRes.
"There is a great degree of optimism among the European public affairs sector about its prospects for the next twelve months," Daniel Hamilton, European analyst at ComRes, told EurActiv.
Nevertheless, he was quick to warn that "while the figures do point at growth in the European public affairs sector, it would be wrong to draw any broader conclusions about the overall prospects for the European economy in 2010".
The report revealed that public affairs spending fell dramatically in 2009 but is expected to rise again this year and next.
Although PA budgets have decreased, staff levels in public affairs departments remain largely the same, the survey found, despite a fifth of organisations having made personnel cuts across the board.
"The European public affairs industry has shown remarkable resilience throughout the economic crisis," Hamilton said.
"In each successive year since 2004 – and throughout the global economic crisis - average public affairs expenditure has increased. In 2009, 77% of firms either maintained or increased their level of public affairs spending. In 2010, this figure rises to 85% with a third (32%) of respondents expecting an increase in their budgets," he explained.
PA bosses satisfied with EU lobby register
Meanwhile, public affairs chiefs declared themselves satisfied with last year's changes to the European Commission's register of interest representatives, with almost 50% expressing their approval of the revised scheme.
Last autumn, the Commission published a wide-ranging review of the lobby registration scheme launched by Siim Kallas, a vice-president of the EU executive, in 2008 (EurActiv 29/10/09).
The changes introduced tighter financial disclosure rules for registrants, abolishing the percentage-based system in favour of differentiated brackets according to the size of turnover declared.
The review also confirmed the Commission's view that think-tanks are interest representatives and most are expected to participate in the register, despite some diverging opinions.
The proposed changes are not expected to come into effect until June at the earliest, once the European Parliament has had the opportunity to vote on the new rules. As a result, the majority (28%) of respondents do not intend to act until then, while a further 22% intend to wait for the Commission to consult the PA industry first.
Council decision-making 'opaque'
Asked about the transparency of decision-making in the European Union, public affairs professionals were nearly unanimous in labelling the Council, which gathers representatives of national governments, the most secretive of the EU institutions.
Just 10% of respondents considered Council decision-making to be "very/fairly transparent," while the European Parliament came out on top with over 80%. Similarly, around two-thirds described the Council as "inaccessible," in stark contrast to the "outstandingly accessible" Commission and Parliament.
Asked which institution would grow in strength in the coming years, PA bosses identified the European Parliament, whose powers increased significantly with the recent entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty.
UK elections to disrupt EU business
Meanwhile, survey respondents widely expect the Conservatives to win May's elections in the UK: a result which PA chiefs predict will have a disruptive influence in Brussels, despite the widespread perception (just under 70%) that David Cameron's party holds less influence in the Belgian capital since leaving the European People's Party.
Almost 80% said the Tories were "unlikely" to pursue a pro-European policy agenda once in power.
