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ABOUT US



WHO WE ARE


The European Policy Centre (EPC) is an independent, not-for-profit think tank dedicated to fostering European integration through analysis and debate, supporting and challenging decision-makers at all levels to make informed decisions based on evidence and analysis, and providing a platform for engaging partners, stakeholders and citizens in EU policy-making and in the debate about the future of Europe.

The EPC was launched as a think tank in 1996. In 2003, the EPC was established as an international not-for-profit organisation under Belgian law. 

The EPC’s articles of association and subsequent amendments are available online here.




Brigid Laffan
 is the current President of the EPC. She is also President of the Strategic Council. 

Herman Van Rompuy is the Honorary President of the EPC.



Strategic Council

The Strategic Council brings together thought leaders and experts from diverse backgrounds and nationalities. They bring fresh insights and forward-looking perspectives on the major challenges facing the European Union. Once a year, they meet with our analysts to reflect on the strategic priorities of the Union and their implications for the work and strategic direction of the European Policy Centre.

Governance

The Governing Board is responsible for the managerial oversight of the European Policy Centre with all the associated powers. Day-to-day management is delegated to the Chief Executive, who acts as the EPC’s Legal Representative and is accountable to the Board. 

The General Assembly meets once a year to formally approve the annual accounts and adopt the budget for the year ahead, in line with Belgian law. 

Partners

The EPC works with partners throughout Europe and beyond that share similar objectives. We engage with other think tanks and policy institutes in the member states, exchanging ideas and producing joint policy recommendations. The EPC also has strong links to foundations that share the principles, values and basic objectives of the EPC and has a long-standing strategic partnership with the King Baudouin Foundation.

Members

Our membership is drawn from a broad spectrum of organisations, representing the main stakeholders concerned with EU affairs at the local, regional national and international level. Members actively contribute to our events, workshops, task forces and roundtables. They bring a multi-stakeholder dimension to our activities and lend legitimacy to our recommendations.


Financing

The European Policy Centre (EPC) is committed to sound financial management and to transparency in respect of its funding sources. In line with its mission statement, the EPC is an independent think tank and none of the financing it receives affects its independence in any way.


WHAT WE DO

pUBLICATIONS

Our publications address the major challenges facing the European Union and look at the long-term trends underpinning EU policymaking. They include recommendations that contribute to the debate, help to inform the policy agenda and take European integration forward.

EVENTS

The EPC organises stimulating and timely policy debates on the issues that matter with the people who matter. By connecting our research programmes to these multi-stakeholder events, we help to raise awareness, ensure policy relevance and foster innovative thinking.

RESEARCH

Our analysts connect policy agendas through a multi-disciplinary approach. Each of our programmes builds on solid expertise and forward-thinking to provide insight into EU politics and develop practical policy proposals. 

Each year, the Governing Board adopts an annual work programme for the coming year, based on a proposal from the management team following discussions in the Strategic Council. The EPC works on the basis of a three-year strategic plan.





WHAT WE STAND FOR

Independence

The EPC is independent of the EU and national institutions and of all vested interests. It is non-partisan, focussing on policy solutions without political affiliation. 


Excellence, relevance and innovation

The EPC works at the centre of European and global policymaking providing its members and the wider public with rapid, high-quality information and flexible analysis of the EU and global policy agenda. It focuses on providing implementable, timely, flexible and relevant policy recommendations, taking a critical but constructive approach. It champions new ideas and solutions, as well as new ways of engaging with and involving stakeholders and citizens.

Cross-cutting and long-term solutions

The EPC aims to promote coherent, holistic and strategic policymaking by making links between and across different policy areas and policymakers, connecting policies across silos in a multi-disciplinary way. It focuses on long-term sustainable solutions, especially in areas of critical importance for the future of European integration, Europe's role in the world and people's well-being. It does this by analysing emerging trends and developments that can inform and improve current and future policies and strategies, taking account of the global environment which is impacting the EU and its member states.

Multi-constituency and inclusive

The EPC aims to promote a balanced dialogue between the different constituencies of its membership, spanning all areas of economic and social life, including companies, professional and business federations, trade unions, diplomatic missions, regional and local bodies, as well as NGOs representing different civil society interests, foundations and religious organisations. The EPC recognises that the European integration process requires effective multi-level governance at international, European, national and regional/local levels and aims to reach citizens and national/regional stakeholders who are not regularly engaged with the EU.

ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE AND VALUES


The EPC is committed to providing a work environment in which all staff are treated equally regardless of gender identity, age, disability, race, nationality, ethnicity, civil status, religious convictions and beliefs, sexual orientation, family composition as well as geographical location and socio-economic background. Our organisational culture and values reflect this commitment and provide an umbrella of shared values and behaviours that guide how we aspire to work together to create a shared sense of purpose and identity. The organisational culture shapes the kinds of leadership style that the EPC aspires to and provides the framework around which management and planning decisions are taken, and builds accountability for them. The EPC has adopted 10 values that outline our organisational culture.




Partnership & outreach

The EPC is committed to building partnerships to enable transnationalised debate on key policy issues and ensure a broad-based, balanced approach. It works with think tanks and policy institutes in the member states, exchanging ideas and producing joint policy recommendations. By reaching out to experts beyond Brussels, the EPC is helping bridge the gap between policy- and decision-makers at the EU level and civil society. 

Ethically-conducted research

As a signatory of the STEP Accord for ethical policy advice, the EPC is committed to conducting its work ethically, responsibly, and with integrity. This includes the use of high-quality research, analysis and evidence, transparency as to how the high quality of evidence is assured and independence and integrity of the EPC and our analysts. The EPC sees these principles as conditional to reliable and ethical policy advice and, therefore for evidence-based policy-making. The EPC Governing Board adopted the STEP Accord in June 2021.



You can find the full text of the Accord here.

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