The European Policy Centre (EPC) is a Brussels

Brussels

Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...

-based not-for-profit think tank

Think tank

A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...

 on European Union affairs, founded in 1996. It is committed to making European integration

European integration

European integration is the process of industrial, political, legal, economic integration of states wholly or partially in Europe...

 work and to promoting discussion and wider reflection on the issues facing the EU now and the challenges which lie ahead.

The EPC aims to be a catalyst for new ideas and new thinking on these issues, and to promote a balanced dialogue between the different organizations. It has a membership of over 400 organisations, ranging from business, civil society, national governments, diplomatic missions, and regional and local bodies.

EPC Activities

EPC Policy Analysts come from a range of backgrounds. They carry out research and analysis, organise expert meetings and events with the main stakeholders concerned with EU and global affairs and produce policy analysis on-line and in print. The EPC’s Chief Executive is Hans Martens, a Danish political scientist.

Its policy work is organised under three main programmes:

• EU Integration and Citizenship (chaired by Gijs de Vries, Former EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator

• Europe’s Political Economy (chaired by Leszek Balcerowicz, Former Polish Deputy Prime Minister)

• Europe in the World (chaired by Dr Hans Blix)

Funding

The EPC’s funding comes from a number of sources, including its strategic partners: the King Baudouin Foundation, based in Belgium, and the Turin-based foundation the Compagnia di San Paolo, from membership fees, and grants from the EU and other organisations. Details of these are published on its website.

EPC governance

The EPC’s General Assembly is chaired by Peter Sutherland, former European Commissioner and World Trade Organization Director-General. He is also President of its Advisory Council, which includes many prominent EU figures.
The Governing Board is chaired by Antonio Vitorino, former European Commissioner and former Deputy Prime Minister of Portugal.

EPC and British American Tobacco

In January 2010, research was published alleging that in the 1990s EPC helped tobacco companies, as well as other industry groups, lobby "to ensure that the EU framework for evaluating policy options emphasised business interests at the expense of public health".

At no time was this the Forum’s objective. British American Tobacco was one of a number of companies who took part in the Forum set up in 1997 to promote improved regulation of risk-related issues throughout the EU decision-making process. EPC ended the Forum in 2006.

British American Tobacco remains an ordinary EPC member among over 400 organisations and has no special influence in any of EPC’s activities or governing bodies.

Transparency Initiative

The European Commission introduced a Transparency Initiative in 2005, and has since set up a Register of Interest Representatives. This defines “interest representation” as “the activities carried out with the objective of influencing the policy formulation and decision-making processes of the European institutions”. The EPC does not represent any specific interest group but works in favour of the general interest in advocating European integration. Therefore, in 2009, the EPC Board decided to join the register, in line also with its commitment to openness and transparency demonstrated by the information it provides on its website on its financing and governance.

External links
European Policy Centre website: www.epc.eu

See also

• King Baudouin Foundation
  King Baudouin Foundation
  The King Baudouin Foundation is a public benefit foundation in Brussels, Belgium, established in 1976.Named after Baudouin of Belgium, Belgium's late head of state, its mission is to contribute to improving the living conditions of the population. KBF, both a grantmaking and an operating...
  
   (strategic partnership)
• Compagnia di San Paolo (strategic partnership)
• Policy Network
  Policy Network
  Policy Network is a London-based centre-left international think tank. It is leading platform for long-term strategic thinking, policymaking and international best practice, influencing policy debates in the UK, Europe and internationally...
  
  

External links

• European Policy Centre (EPC)