CENTRE FOR EUROPEAN POLICY STUDIES

Their core work

CEPS is a Brussels-based independent think tank that produces policy research and analysis on EU governance, trade, migration, climate, and socio-economic issues. They translate complex research findings into actionable policy recommendations, bridging the gap between academic research and EU decision-making. Their work spans policy evaluation, foresight exercises, regulatory analysis, and socio-economic modelling across a wide range of European policy domains. They frequently serve as the policy analysis partner in large research consortia, contributing expertise on EU institutional frameworks, governance mechanisms, and regulatory impact.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2015–2018), CEPS focused heavily on fiscal governance, energy roadmaps, conflict response, and circular economy measurement — traditional EU policy domains with a strong internal market orientation. From 2019 onward, their portfolio shifted markedly toward global governance themes: asylum and refugee policy (ASILE), violent extremism prevention (PREVEX), EU foreign policy (JOINT), and pandemic response (PERISCOPE). This evolution shows a think tank expanding from inward-looking EU economic and environmental policy toward outward-facing global challenges including migration, security, and crisis resilience.

CEPS is moving toward global governance challenges — asylum, extremism, foreign policy, and pandemic preparedness — making them an increasingly relevant partner for projects addressing EU external action and transnational crises.

How they like to work

CEPS overwhelmingly participates as a consortium partner (22 of 26 projects) rather than leading, which reflects their role as a policy analysis contributor embedded within larger research teams. They have coordinated only twice (TRIGGER and ASILE), both on EU governance topics where their Brussels location and institutional expertise give them natural leadership. With 327 unique partners across 48 countries, they operate as a highly networked hub — a connector organization that brings policy credibility and EU institutional knowledge to diverse consortia.

CEPS has collaborated with 327 distinct partners across 48 countries, an exceptionally broad network for an organization of its size. Their Brussels base and policy-focused mandate make them a natural bridge between academic researchers, government bodies, and EU institutions across virtually all of Europe and beyond.

What sets them apart

CEPS occupies a rare position as an SME-classified independent think tank headquartered in the EU policy capital, giving them direct access to EU institutions and policymakers that few research partners can match. Unlike academic institutions, they specialize in translating research into policy-ready outputs — impact assessments, regulatory analysis, and governance recommendations. For consortium builders, CEPS adds immediate policy relevance and dissemination reach into EU decision-making circles, making them especially valuable in Societal Challenge projects that need to demonstrate policy impact.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PERISCOPE
  Largest single grant (EUR 1.1M) — a pan-European COVID-19 response project, showing CEPS can anchor major crisis-response research with significant budget responsibility.
• ASILE
  One of only two projects CEPS coordinated, focusing on global asylum governance and the UN Global Compact on Refugees — reflects their growing leadership in migration policy research.
• TRIGGER
  Their other coordinated project, examining trends in global governance and Europe's role, including foresight, public engagement, and emerging technologies — a signature CEPS theme.