Friends of Europe

Friends of Europe
Name	Friends of Europe
Type	Think tank
Founded	1999
Headquarters	Brussels
Region	Europe
Leader title	President
Leader name	Giles Merritt

Friends of Europe

Friends of Europe is a Brussels-based public policy think tank that convenes leaders from across the European Union, NATO, and international institutions to debate policies on digital transformation, climate, trade, security, and social cohesion. It engages with policymakers from the European Commission, European Parliament, Council of the European Union, national capitals such as Berlin and Paris, and international partners including the United Nations and the World Bank. The organisation produces research, hosts forums, and publishes analyses aiming to influence debates in forums such as the G7, G20, and COP climate conferences.

Overview

Friends of Europe operates as a non-party, independent platform bringing together former prime ministers, commissioners, central bankers, corporate executives, civil society figures, and academics from institutions like European Commission, European Parliament, NATO, United Nations, and World Bank. Its activities span policy domains linked to the European Green Deal, Digital Single Market, Common Security and Defence Policy, and EU enlargement debates involving candidates such as Ukraine and Turkey. The network includes fellows, trustees, and corporate partners drawn from multinational firms headquartered in cities such as Brussels, London, Paris, and Berlin.

History and Development

Founded in 1999 amid debates following the Treaty of Amsterdam and the lead-up to the Treaty of Nice, the organization emerged as part of a broader ecosystem of Brussels-based think tanks including Bruegel, European Council on Foreign Relations, and Centre for European Policy Studies. Early years coincided with institutional milestones like the launch of the Euro and EU enlargement rounds that admitted countries from Central and Eastern Europe after the Cold War. Over time the group adapted to geopolitical shifts triggered by events such as the Iraq War, the 2008 financial crisis, the Arab Spring, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022), broadening focus to resilience, sanctions, and energy security.

Mission, Activities, and Programs

The stated mission emphasizes convening cross-sectoral dialogue among stakeholders drawn from institutions like the European Investment Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and national ministries from capitals including Rome and Madrid. Programs address climate action linked to COP26 and COP27, digital regulation engaging with frameworks such as the General Data Protection Regulation debate, and trade policy contextualized by agreements like the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement negotiations. It runs fellowship schemes attracting participants from universities such as Oxford University, Sorbonne University, and Humboldt University of Berlin, and partners with research centres like Chatham House and Brookings Institution for joint projects.

Governance and Funding

Governance structures include a board of trustees composed of former cabinet ministers, EU commissioners, central bank officials, and corporate chairs who have served in roles at institutions like the European Central Bank and national parliaments such as the Bundestag and the Assemblée nationale. Funding sources combine corporate sponsorship from firms headquartered in Brussels, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt, philanthropic grants from foundations linked to families and endowments, and project funding from agencies including the European Commission and multilateral bodies like the United Nations Development Programme. Transparency debates around funding echo scrutiny faced by other think tanks like Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Atlantic Council.

Publications and Events

The organization issues policy briefs, reports, and digital content addressing topics such as the Green Deal, industrial strategy following the 2008 financial crisis, and transatlantic relations with United States administrations and institutions like the White House. Events include high-level summits, roundtables, and public panels that have drawn speakers from the offices of presidents and prime ministers, former officials from the European Commission, commissioners such as those overseeing competition and trade, and leaders from NGOs like Amnesty International and Greenpeace. Publications are circulated to stakeholders in Brussels, capitals such as Warsaw and Vienna, and to delegates attending international fora including the World Economic Forum.

Reception and Influence

Scholars, journalists, and policymakers cite the organization alongside think tanks such as Institute for International Political Studies and German Marshall Fund when assessing policy debates on EU strategic autonomy, energy transition, and digital sovereignty. Critics raise questions familiar from debates about think tank independence and corporate sponsorship, referencing case studies involving transparency disputes seen at institutions like Transparency International and commentary in outlets such as The Economist and Financial Times. Supporters highlight convening power evidenced by participation from former heads of state, commissioners, and central bank governors, and its role in shaping dialogues linked to milestones like the Conference on the Future of Europe and successive European Council meetings.

Category:Think tanks based in Belgium Category:Organizations established in 1999