Paal Frisvold, founder and managing director of The Brussels Office, becomes a partner of the Geelmuyden Kiese Group. Frisvold has worked in Brussels since 1997 and established the consulting agency The Brussels Office in 2001. Until 2013, he established and built up the EU section of the Bellona Foundation, an environmental NGO, contributing to the development of EU’s energy and climate policies. Frisvold has also served as president of the European Movement in Norway.

Image: Paal Frisvold (right) and Hans Geelmuyden open Brussels Office.

A Scandinavian initiative
– We do not collect countries, we collect good people. Having 18 years of experience from the EU capital, Paal is the main reason why we establish GK Brussels, says Hans Geelmuyden, founder and chief partner of the Geelmuyden Kiese Group.

In Brussels, a comprehensive development of policy is currently under way in areas where Scandinavian countries have significant interests[1]. Among other things, the Energy Union and the Circular Economy are central aspects of the EU’s strategy for the coming four years. On this area, Norwegian energy and recycling interests have the opportunity to play a vital role. The European Commission is aiming to make energy the fifth freedom of the European Union, on the same level as goods, services, people and capital. In addition, there is the new, digital internal market. There is hardly any political area in Norway that is not in some way impacted by the EU. Eighty per cent of Norwegian legislation can be traced to Brussels.

Long-term stamina
According to Hans Geelmuyden, GK’s urge to take part in the European cooperation is essential for GK Brussels to succeed. Viewed from Stockholm or Copenhagen, The European Union is a reality. Senior partner Gunnar Mathisen was directly involved in the EEA negotiations twenty-five years ago. He has been one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the GK Brussels office.

– When Geelmuyden Kiese decides to commit, we have great stamina and are in for the long term. Establishing our Stockholm and Copenhagen offices has been challenging processes, but we now count 45 employees in Copenhagen and 25 in Stockholm, says Hans Geelmuyden. – Many have failed in Brussels before us. We will succeed.

Contacts
Hans Geelmuyden
Senior partner and leader of the Geelmuyden Kiese Group
+47 90 20 34 84
hans.geelmuyden@gknordic.com

 

Paal Frisvold
Partner in the Geelmuyden Kiese Group and manager, GK Brussel
+32 473 97 87 60
paal.frisvold@gknordic.com

 

Brussels initiative: Paal Frisvold (left), Gunnar Mathisen and Hans Geelmuyden (right).

 

 

 

[1] http://ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm