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| Fondation Concorde | |
|---|---|
| Name | Fondation Concorde |
| Formation | 2000 |
| Type | Think tank |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Leader title | President |
| Leader name | Alain Madelin |
Fondation Concorde is a Paris-based think tank founded in 2000 that produces policy analysis and public advocacy on taxation, social policy, and public finance. It engages with policymakers, legislators, and media across France, the European Union, and francophone countries, contributing to debates on fiscal reform, social insurance, and labor markets. The foundation publishes studies, organizes conferences, and provides expert testimony to bodies such as the Assemblée nationale and the Conseil d'État while interacting with international institutions.
Fondation Concorde was established at the turn of the 21st century amid debates shaped by events like the Eurozone crisis, the expansion of the European Union (2004) and policy shifts following the Treaty of Nice. Its founding reflected trends in the broader think tank ecosystem exemplified by organizations such as the Brookings Institution, the Heritage Foundation, the Institut Montaigne and the Chatham House. Early work drew on comparative models from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Sweden, referencing reforms in the 1990s welfare reform in Sweden, the Thatcher ministry, and the Hartz reforms of Germany. Over successive administrations in France—including the tenures of presidents like Jacques Chirac, Nicolas Sarkozy, François Hollande, and Emmanuel Macron—the foundation positioned itself as a contributor to tax debates and pension reform discussions influenced by rulings of the Conseil constitutionnel and directives from the European Commission.
The foundation states aims aligned with promoting fiscal clarity and policy efficiency. Its objectives resonate with propositions advocated by figures and institutions such as Jean-Claude Juncker, OECD, IMF, World Bank, and scholars linked to the École des hautes études en sciences sociales and Sciences Po. It asserts goals of proposing alternatives to existing frameworks like the French social security system, reassessing instruments such as the value-added tax and exploring models seen in the Nordic model, the Anglo-Saxon model, and fiscal regimes of jurisdictions like Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Ireland. The mission emphasizes engagement with elected bodies including the Senate (France), municipal councils in cities like Lyon and Marseille, and European institutions such as the European Parliament.
The governance resembles that of many policy institutes: a board of directors, an executive leadership, research fellows, and administrative staff. Senior figures have included former deputies and ministers from parties like Les Républicains, Union for a Popular Movement, and liberal groupings akin to Mouvement des Entreprises de France. Research teams are organized by thematic units mirroring committees found in the Assemblée nationale: public finance, social protection, labor regulation, and public procurement. The foundation collaborates with academics from institutions like Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Université Paris Dauphine, École Polytechnique, and HEC Paris, as well as legal experts linked to the Cour de cassation and economists associated with the INSEE and France Stratégie.
Activities encompass policy papers, public events, and advisory roles. Publications include comparative studies referencing models from the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan, and draw on data from bodies like the Eurostat, the OECD, and the International Labour Organization. Programs include seminars with participants from think tanks such as the Atlantic Council, the Bruegel institute, and regional partners including the Fondation Jean-Jaurès and the Fondation Robert Schuman. The foundation organizes conferences in Paris that have hosted speakers from the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and national ministries such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance (France). It also offers training sessions for staffers of parliamentary groups and municipal administrations, and technical briefs submitted to parliamentary committees during legislative debates over measures like pension reform and tax code adjustments.
Funding sources have included donations, paid research commissions, and event sponsorships, with interactions involving corporations, professional federations, and philanthropic entities similar to Fondation Bettencourt Schueller and Fondation pour l'innovation politique. The foundation cites partnerships with academic centers including CNRS, university laboratories, and European networks such as the European Policy Centre. It has entered project collaborations with international organizations including the Council of Europe and informal exchanges with agencies like UNICEF on social indicators. Transparency of funding has been a recurring theme in public scrutiny analogous to debates around funding transparency at institutions such as the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Fondation Concorde's analyses have influenced public debate and legislative consultations, contributing to discourse on fiscal consolidation, labor market flexibility, and taxation. Its proposals have been cited in media outlets and parliamentary reports, paralleling the reach of institutes like the Adam Smith Institute and the Center for European Policy Studies. Critics—drawing comparisons to controversies faced by entities such as Cambridge Analytica and disputes involving other policy institutes—have questioned ideological leanings, donor influence, and methodological assumptions in some studies. Academic critics from institutions like EHESS and Université Paris 8 have challenged specific empirical claims, and parliamentary opponents in groups such as La France insoumise and the Parti socialiste have disputed policy prescriptions. Debates also reference legal frameworks including rulings by the Conseil d'État and fiscal oversight under regulators like the Commission des comptes.
Category:Think tanks based in France