European Center for Political Strategy
The so-called Inspire, Debate, Engage and Accelerate Action (IDEA) is the internal think tank of the European Commission and is on an equal footing with a Directorate-General of the Commission. It is assigned directly to the President-in-Office of the Commission . It advises the President and the EU Commission through strategic analyzes. The main focus of the team's work is based on the six priorities of the von der Leyen Commission : "Geopolitics and Europe in the world order", " Green Deal ", "Digitization, technology and innovation", "Social market economy" and "The future of Europe and the EU institutions ". These content-related areas of responsibility are divided into two sub-departments within the think tank and are supported by central services. The service is based in Brussels.
The origins of the think tank go back to 1989, since then the structure has been regularly adapted by the incumbent commissions. Until December 2019, the think tank operated under the name European Center for Political Strategy (EPSC).
History of the European Commission's think tank
Forward Studies Unit of the European Commission
The origins of what is now known as IDEA date back to 1989, when the predictive studies unit was set up by the European Commission as a small think tank staffed by EU officials directly linked to the then-incumbent Commission President Jacques Delors were subordinated.
The main task of the special unit was to observe and evaluate European integration by examining long-term perspectives and structural trends. In doing so, it relied in particular on a network of external contacts to research institutes that specialized in long-term forecasts and planning. Members of this first unit were among others Marc Luyckx Ghisi, Guy Spier and Maria João Rodrigues.
Group of Policy Advisers (GOPA)
In May 2000, Romano Prodi converted the Forward Studies department into the so-called Group of Policy Advisers (GOPA) and entrusted it with four specific areas of responsibility: business, social affairs, foreign affairs and dialogue with religions.
Bureau of European Policy Advisers (BEPA)
With the beginning of the term of office of José Manuel Barroso as President of the European Commission in 2004, GOPA was restructured again and renamed the Bureau of European Policy Advisers (BEPA). In addition to the established support and political advice to the Commission President, the main tasks were in particular contact with civil society, institutional activities in the field of ethics in science and new technologies and the continuation of the dialogue with churches, religious communities as well as philosophical and ideological organizations. The think tank existed in this form until the end of Barroso's second term in 2014.
European Political Strategy Center (EPSC)
With the arrival of Jean-Claude Juncker as President of the European Commission in 2014, the BEPA was restructured and renamed the European Political Strategy Center (EPSC). The task of dialogue with religions and worldviews has been outsourced to the General Directorate Justice and Consumers under the direction of Vincent Depaigne. The head of the center under Jean-Claude Junker was Ann Mettler . The center was divided into two directorates, each headed by a deputy head of the center. The think tank existed in this form until it was restructured by Ursula von der Leyen.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Inspire, Debate, Engage and Accelerate Action. Retrieved May 18, 2020 .
- ^ IDEA - Inspire, Debate, Engage and Accelerate Action - EU Whoiswho - Publications Office of the EU. Retrieved May 18, 2020 .
- ↑ Management plan for the BEPA from 2014. European Commission, accessed on May 18, 2020 (English).
- ↑ Mr V. DEPAIGNE - EU Whoiswho - Publications Office of the European Union. Retrieved May 18, 2020 .
- ^ Archive page of the EPSC. European Commission, accessed May 18, 2020 .
- ^ Press corner. Retrieved May 18, 2020 .
