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The legislative process in Brussels is dynamic, democratic, devoted. And daunting for those who don't understand it. The officials of the European Commission, the member states' representatives at the European Council, the electorate's voices in the European Parliament, together they agree on what to do and how to do it in the European Union. Colors, opinions, backgrounds, languages, an intriguing mix of flavors that need their time to marry, in new agreements, new rules.

Crucial for the effectiveness of rules, in the financial sector if anywhere, is an understanding of the drivers, intentions and objectives of those rules. When those who apply the rules understand the why of the rules, compliance becomes an effective means to get to objectives, instead of a costly administrative exercise.

My translation is about explaining drivers, objectives and means in the financial sector. I translate between those who make the rules (legislators, regulators) and those who apply the rules (businesses, supervisors). Tailor-made workshops appear a preferred method for translation, publications such as the example a second best.

Translation example

Connect

Crucial for mutual understanding between those who make rules and those who apply them, is that the two ends of that relationship meet. I've never had instances where professionals meet and not find their commonalities.

In the regulatory environment of the financial sector, the obvious existence of conflicts of interest between rule-makers and those who are subject to those rules, often seems an unconvincable barrier. However, when looking closer at both ends of that regulatory relationship, common directions can be found and new  solutions.

My connection is about bringing people together who share interests but have different views how to get to their goals. Optimal occassions are personal meetings, more informal occassions are conferences, such as the example.

Connection example

Empower

Legislation is the end of a democratic negotiation process, but it is the beginning of an effective application of agreed rules, to get to specific objectives.

Achieving these agreed objectives is in the end the only thing that matters. In the financial sector, all actors support soundness of the institutions and other actors in the market, confidence of their customers, and protection mechanisms in case of unexpected adverse events - what we call financial stability.

My empowering of both regulators and business actors in the financial sector is about helping them choose those actions that matter most to their objectives, given a legislative framework. I can do this on an ad hoc basis for specific situations, or guiding a firm or team in a longer term project, or more fundamentally when advising officials across the globe, such as in an IMF expert team setting.

Empowering example