Centre for European Studies (CES)
The Centre for European Studies (CES) is a European political foundation, representing a new phase in Europe-wide policy formation and research, embodying a pan-European mindset. Founded in 2007, the Centre is the official think-tank of the European People’s Party (EPP) and, in particular, serves as a common European framework for national foundations and think-tanks recognized by EPP member-parties. CES is governed under the revised 2007 “EU Regulation on political parties at European level and rules regarding their funding“.
The core activities of the Centre are its research and study projects, which are complemented and supported by conferences, seminars, workshops and publications, many of which are executed in conjunction with its member organisations. The aim of the foundation is to contribute both to the public awareness of European Citizens on the development of European integration and to help decision-makers and opinion leaders, such as EPP head of states and government, and EPP party leaders, to formulate new and effective policy options. Its role is to bring together like minded foundations, think-tanks, academics, experts and decision-makers across Europe to debate and exchange views and ideas as well as to disseminate the results of the proposed activities to the public and the decision-makers.
Ordinary members of the Centre include individuals, political foundations and think-tanks. In order for a political foundation or think-tank to become an ordinary member of the Centre, it must be recognized by its respective EPP member party and be engaged in promoting political information and debate, and facilitating EU integration. All members have to be committed to support the objectives and aims of the Centre. In essence, the Centre is a European hub that brings together inspirational individuals and groundbreaking research to create an environment from which new ideas and relationships emerge. As the official think-tank of the EPP, the Centre for European Studies shall monitor, analyse and contribute to the debate of the policy priorities of the EU.
European Ideas Network (EIN)
The European Ideas Network is a pan-European process designed to promote new thinking on the key policy challenges facing the European Union and its member states. Launched in 2002 by the then EPP-ED Group with the active support of the EPP, the network has rapidly emerged as an important meeting point and intellectual cross-roads for the centre-right in European Politics. With an active membership of around 600 policy makers and opinion-shapers across the EU, the EIN brings together politicians, businessmen, academics, policy advisors, think tankers, journalists as well as outside non-party experts and commentators interested in the issues being addressed.
The EIN currently has 12 working groups, addressing key domestic and international questions. Operating on an annual cycle, they undertake research and develop new thinking, to prepare in puts into the annual summer university. They attract prominent policy experts as chairmen and rapporteurs.
Robert Schuman Institute
The “Union of the Robert Schuman Institute for Developing Democracy in Central and Eastern Europe” (RSI) has been operating under the auspices of the EPP with an extended scope of activities since 1995. The RSI organizes international courses for potential young leaders, party members and officials of the EPP sister and co-operating parties of the developing democracies in the region receiving both theoretical and practical training. Since the 2004 EU enlargement, the Institute has been focusing mostly on East and Southeast European countries. In 2007 Othmar Karas was appointed President of RSI.
Centre for Political Parliamentary Education and Training (CET)
The “EPP Centre for Political Parliamentary Education and Training” (CET) was established in 2002. The goal of the CET is to contribute to the successful work of the EPP Group in the European Parliament by organising educational activities: workshops, seminars, conferences and special meetings.
For more on the Centre for Political Parliamentary Education and Training, please contact:
Robert Schuman Foundation
The Robert Schuman Foundation for Cooperation among Christian Democrats in Europe, founded in 1989, is an entity of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, registered in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Since its establishment, the Foundation has provided one month internships in the European Parliament for more than 500 young people, primarily from central and eastern Europe, but also from Latin America, Russia and the southern Caucasus. The majority of those who studied the programs follow the policies and values they originally adopted. Every two years the Foundation organizes meetings of former interns in the form of political seminars.
