On 21 May, Diana Pazaitova, Managing Partner at Fama Consulting and BBCC Board Member, spoke at the PACE Annual Summit 2026 in Madrid, alongside fellow public affairs professionals from Czechia, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Romania – all gathered at the Senate of the Kingdom of Spain.
The panel on the state of lobbying regulation across Europe made one thing clear: the regulatory landscape is shifting fast, and those who do not engage proactively and effectively in shaping it based on values will find themselves shaped by it.
Key takeaways:
- Transparency frameworks are spreading — but implementation gaps remain wide
- Harmonisation at EU level is increasingly inevitable, yet politically complex
- The profession must lead on standards, not just expect lawmakers to impose them
The discussions on lobbying regulation, geopolitical developments, and especially the evolving role of AI in public affairs highlighted how rapidly our profession is transforming – and how important transparency, ethics, and cross-border collaboration have become.
“It was a pleasure to contribute to the conversation and exchange perspectives with peers from across Europe”, says Diana.