PACE - Public Affairs Community of Europe

What PACE - Public Affairs Community of Europe does

PACE - Public Affairs Community of Europe is a Brussels-headquartered international non-profit association (AISBL) that serves as the pan-European federation of national public affairs and lobbying professional associations. Founded in 2011 through an initiative by Italy's Il Chiostro and Spain's APRI, and formally registered as an AISBL in Belgium in 2018, PACE unites 17 member associations across 16 European countries (as of 2025), spanning Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Switzerland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and the EU institutions level.

The organization operates a portfolio of professional convening, education, and advocacy programs. Its core offerings include the annual flagship summits (hosted in a different European capital each year since 2011), the PACE Academy Young Leaders Programme launched in 2025, the 'Lobbying in Europe' webinar series, official position statements on lobbying transparency and ethics, and a collaborative academic research initiative with the University of Salamanca on lobbying regulation. PACE is also an active interlocutor in EU regulatory debates on lobbying, contributing to OECD consultations on transparency guidelines and engaging with the British Parliament's Constitutional Committee.

PACE's business model is membership-based, with revenue generated primarily through annual dues paid by its member national associations. The organization is member-governed through a Board of Directors composed of representatives from member associations, with Laura Florea (Romania) elected President in May 2024 for a three-year term. As a non-profit, PACE does not publicly disclose revenue, and there is no evidence of commercial product lines, technology platforms, or proprietary AI systems underpinning its operations.

Name

PACE - Public Affairs Community of Europe

Legal name

Public Affairs Community of Europe (AISBL - Association Internationale Sans But Lucratif)

Website

https://paceurope.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PACE - Public Affairs Community of Europe is a Brussels-based international non-profit association (AISBL) that unites 17 national public affairs and lobbying professional associations across 16 European countries, delivering annual summits, the PACE Academy educational programme, and advocacy on lobbying transparency and ethics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Industry Association

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Training, Enablement & Talent Development Summits (THAHAMAH)

Keywords

• Professional association services
• Public affairs advocacy
• Lobbying regulation
• Industry networking events
• Nonprofit membership association

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: PACE operates as a membership-based organization, generating revenue through annual dues from its member national public affairs associations across European jurisdictions.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PACE is an international non-profit association (AISBL) that unites 17 national public affairs associations across Europe. It provides a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, advocacy on lobbying regulation and ethics, and professional development through annual summits, the PACE Academy educational programs, research initiatives, and policy statements.

Product overview

PACE (Public Affairs Community of Europe) is a European association organized as an international non-profit (AISBL), not a software platform. It operates a portfolio of professional development and networking programs including annual summits, the PACE Academy educational initiative, research initiatives on lobbying regulation, and knowledge-sharing resources such as statements and webinars. The organization's offerings center on convening, educating, and advocating for public affairs professionals rather than delivering technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PACE Academy: The educational branch of PACE focused on professional development, skill-building, ethical innovation, and nurturing the next generation of public affairs leaders through programs like the Young Leaders Programme.
• PACE Young Professionals Academy

Products and services

• PACE Annual Summits Annual flagship conferences bringing together public affairs professionals from across Europe to discuss lobbying regulation, ethics, transparency, and the future of the profession, including country presentations, panel discussions, and General Assembly meetings.
• PACE Academy (Young Leaders Programme) Educational branch of PACE designed to strengthen professional identity and leadership across generations; empowers emerging public affairs professionals through dialogue, networking, mentorship, and practical exchange.
• PACE Young Professionals Academy An inaugural two-day academy program for young public affairs practitioners from across Europe, focused on the future of the profession, ethics and transparency in lobbying, regulatory impact, and emerging trends.
• European Study on Lobbying Regulation A collaborative research project with the University of Salamanca's CIGG and APRI to develop a comparative study and publish an academic book on lobbying regulation models in Europe, including summary sheets on national regulations.
• PACE Statements Official position papers and statements on lobbying regulation, transparency, ethics, and public affairs matters, including contributions to international consultations (e.g., OECD) and statements on regulatory developments across Europe.
• Lobbying in Europe Series Online webinar series providing in-depth looks at lobbying scenarios across European countries, featuring national association presentations on regulatory and business standpoints.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Salamanca (Center for Research on Global Governance - CIGG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Collaboration to develop a comparative study on lobbying regulation in Europe, culminating in an academic book publication and summary sheets in English. Signed by Professor Juan José Rastrollo (CIGG), Irene Matías (APRI), and Laura Florea (PACE).
• APRI (Asociación de Profesionales de las Relaciones Institucionales)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Spanish partner association co-hosting 2026 Madrid Summit and collaborating on European lobbying regulation study with University of Salamanca.
• Asociación de Profesionales de las Relaciones Institucionales (APRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish national association hosting the 2026 PACE Annual Summit at the Senate of Spain in Madrid.
• OECDminorOthersOngoing engagement with OECD on transparency and integrity in lobbying guidelines. PACE participated in OECD Forum on Lobbying in 2013 and contributed to OECD public consultation on lobbying recommendations in 2022.
• EPACA (European Public Affairs Consultancies' Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrussels-based organization representing public affairs consultancies. Regular participant in PACE summits and collaborative discussions on EU transparency register and lobbying regulation.
• SEAP (Society of European Affairs Professionals)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrussels-based organization representing lobby consultancies. Participates in PACE annual summits discussing EU transparency register developments.
• Public Affairs CouncilminorOthersU.S.-based organization whose representative (João Sousa) presented at PACE Young Professionals Academy 2025 on corporate public affairs practices.
• Transparency InternationalminorOthersAnti-corruption organization that participates in PACE events and publishes reports on lobbying in Europe. Regular contributor to panel discussions on transparency regulation.
• Burson-MarstellerminorOthersGlobal PR firm that presented the European Report on Public Affairs at PACE events.
• Anglo-American UniversityminorOthersHosted sessions of the PACE Young Professionals Academy 2025 in Prague.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Transparency International: Global anti-corruption NGO that participates in PACE events, publishes reports on lobbying in Europe, and engages on transparency regulation—an adjacent ecosystem actor that shapes the lobbying policy environment PACE operates within.

Broad incumbents

• PRCA (Public Relations and Communications Association): UK-based global PR and communications body that joined PACE in May 2024 as a member; operates a broader communications remit but overlaps on professional ethics, lobbying, and public affairs practice.
• Public Affairs Council: The largest US-based association for public affairs professionals; serves as the closest functional equivalent to PACE in North America and has presented at PACE Young Professionals Academy 2025.

Direct peers

• Il Chiostro: Italian public affairs association and PACE co-founder (launched the inaugural 2011 Rome conference); Vice-president Francesco Macchia serves on PACE's board, and Il Chiostro hosted the 2025 Summit at the Chamber of Deputies in Rome.
• APRI (Asociación de Profesionales de las Relaciones Institucionales): Spanish national public affairs association; PACE co-founder, board-represented, and host of the 2026 Madrid Summit at the Senate of Spain.
• EPACA (European Public Affairs Consultancies' Association): Brussels-based association representing public affairs consultancies; operates in the same European lobbying/policy advocacy space, frequently participates in PACE summits, and engages with PACE on EU transparency register matters.
• SEAP (Society of European Affairs Professionals): Brussels-based society of lobby consultancy professionals that participates in PACE annual summits and collaborates on EU transparency register developments, making it a directly comparable peer in European public affairs association work.
• AFCL (Association Française des Conseils en Lobbying et Affaires Publiques): French lobbying consultancy association; joined PACE in 2021 and is represented on the PACE board by President Aristide Luneau.
• BEPACT (Belgian Public Affairs Community): Belgian national PA association hosted the 2022 Brussels Summit and is represented on the PACE board through Matti van Hecke; operates in the same national public affairs membership space.
• de'ge'pol (German Public Affairs Association): German national PA association and PACE founding member; Vice-president Dominik Meier (former de'ge'pol President) currently sits on the PACE board.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pace_eu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/publicaffairscommunityofeurope

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about PACE - Public Affairs Community of Europe