Do you know 'Friends of Europe' ?

Source : http://www.friendsofeurope.org/

Who we are

Friends of Europe is an unusual think-tank in that we don't fit the mould of a group of researchers in a closed environment.

We open our activities to all who are interested in Europe's future. Our readers and debating partners are from the EU, its institutions and member governments, companies great and small, NGOs, civil society groups, industry associations, the press and academia.
Friends of Europe does not have an agenda other than making a contribution towards a better understanding of the challenges facing Europe and the world. The distinguished members of our Praesidium and Board of Trustees share this aspiration, and help to make Friends of Europe what it is: a think-tank for EU debate that spans the spectrum of European political opinion.
The running of Friends of Europe's expanding work programme is handled day-to-day by the team, headed by:

* Giles Merritt, Secretary General;
* Geert Cami, Co-Founder & Director; and
* Nathalie Furrer, Director.

The direction and focus of our activities is decided in conjunction with our President, Viscount Etienne Davignon, and the Board of Trustees.

What we do

Friends of Europe is a leading European think-tank that aims to stimulate thinking on the future of the EU. For 10 years our contribution has been the confrontation of ideas that is vital to policymaking and to encouraging wider involvement in Europe’s future.
Different
We are the EU think-tank with a difference. We make Europe’s policy choices lively and relevant to people outside the ‘charmed circle’ of Brussels-based specialists, in our debatesand our publications. About half of those who take part in our events are not from Brussels.
Friends of Europe has never sought to compete with academic researchers who contribute analysis to the European political process. Our publications are widely disseminated and written by specialists or our Trustees. They are highly readable and explain complex issues in an easily understood manner.
The formats of our events are unusual. At one end of the spectrum there are “Café Crossfire” debates, in which leading experts and policymakers answer tough questions from the floor. At the other are major international conferences – “Policy Summits” – that attract top political figures and make headlines. And we are pioneers in harnessing new technology to debating Europe’s future, and its role in the world. Midway between the Café Crossfires and Policy Summits are the many half-day roundtable discussions organised by Friends of Europe. Breaking down the traditional distinction between speakers and participants, these seat some 40 experts around the table, with a further 100+ observers. Roundtables and Policy Summits aim to attract member-state stakeholders to Brussels, and some 30-50% of participants at these events come from abroad.
Friends of Europe seeks to offer a voice to groups not traditionally represented in the EU debate, but who can make a difference: from young people to inuits or explorers on topics such as climate change, to people on the ground when we address development issues.
Independent
Friends of Europe’s hallmark since its earliest days in 2000 has been its independence: We have no national or party political bias, nor do we advance the interests of any of the organisations we partner with.
We work with a wide variety of partners who are attracted by our lively and jargon-free approach to Europe’s big issues, and by our insistence that all sides and viewpoints must be fairly represented in the debates.
Our partners range from EU and non-EU governments to international bodies, from EU institutions to NGOs, and from ‘big business’ to trade associations. Leading media organisations are also regular partners. We are proud to work closely with other think-tanks and universities from across Europe and beyond.
Policy areas
Our portfolio of events and reports means that Friends of Europe contributes ideas on almost all EU-related issues. But we have developed special expertise in six key areas:
International development;

Specific initiatives led by Friends of Europe include the Development Policy Forum (DPF), the Greening Europe Forum (GEF), and the Asia Programme.

Friends of Europe is also teaming up with EUROCHAMBRES and ten other partners to implement the Understanding China programme that is co-funded by the European Commission.