Written by: Mark Dober, Managing Partner of Dober Partners

Brussels is ranked as the first capital in the world in terms of the number of international associations, and this number continues to grow. According to the Union of International Associations (UIA), there are more than 2,400 international associations in Brussels.

Trade associations make up the single largest group of entries in the EU’s transparency register and tend to see Brussels as their natural home. Their formation, advocacy and spread
They differ significantly due to their history and the EU competences covering their sectors. Trade (or business) associations represent private companies and provide a critical function. It is the special ones
Companies that create profits and jobs that drive the European economy towards growth and employment.

Most European trade associations are registered as international non-profit associations under Belgian law. Nearly 60% of them are traditionally pure federations, consisting of national associations; 25% of them are national associations and companies; About 15% have direct and exclusive membership in the company. Their budgets and staff sizes often depend on the nature of the business sector they represent, the degree of regulation of their industries, and who is in charge.

Since the global financial crisis, Brussels has become a more important center for European business and trade associations to engage with policymakers. Over the past decade, there has been a growing sense of community, common purpose and professionalism in the sector in Brussels. The Solvay Executive Master in International Association Management, the European Association of Association Executives, the European Association Summit (EAS), and the Conference and Liaisons Bureau’s visit are all active manifestations of this change.

The trade association sector contributes hundreds of millions of euros to the Brussels economy and promotes better EU policy-making for business and society. Of the 2,400 international associations in Brussels, around 500 European trade or business associations have a permanent secretariat according to the EU Transparency Register. In addition, there are more than 40 trade associations staffed mostly by part-time professionals in association management consulting, public affairs consulting, and law firms.

Three other types of associations identified in the Transparency Register that have a presence in Brussels (and which are also among our clients) are not included in European trade associations:
– Professional associations (such as FERMA – Federation of European Risk Management Associations)
– National trade associations (such as the French Association of Financial Management (AFG) which represents the investment management industry in France)
– Non-profit, non-governmental associations (such as EDF – Environmental Defense Fund)

The reason we chose not to include these other associations in our survey is that pay scales vary widely in these other categories. For example, German and Italian trade associations pay much higher salaries than those in Eastern Europe, in line with the local wage culture. Salaries are also generally much lower in NGOs driven by a social or environmental purpose, for example. Please also note that in 2023 we have also decided to exclude associations and/or their employees hosted by consultancies and law firms, as their employees are consultants and lawyers working in neighboring but distinct job markets in Brussels with different salary ranges.

The core of this salary report is based on an in-depth survey we completed in 2023 of 174 European trade union leaders at Secretary General level, and 600 Secretariat staff overall. This sample size gives an accurate representation of the range of compensation and benefits available to employees of these 500 trade associations in Brussels.

See the full report here.