He knows what it feels like to be on the other side. When lobbyists are in vehement opposition. During his time at the EU Commission, Jiří Zapletal experienced Italian lobbyists who chatted for two hours, created a pleasant atmosphere and subtly delivered their messages. And then there were their German colleagues, who were very blunt in their criticism – just as they were used to at home. „The tone in Brussels is much more conciliatory than in Berlin,“ says Zapletal.