What European Policy Centre does

The European Policy Centre (EPC) is an independent, not-for-profit think tank founded in 1996 and legally established under Belgian law in 2003, headquartered in Brussels at Rue du Trône 14-16. It is dedicated to fostering European integration through policy analysis, publications, high-level events, and the Language of Power podcast. Its work is organised around seven thematic programmes covering European politics and institutions, political economy, migration and diversity, sustainable prosperity, health and societal resilience, Europe in the world, and transnationalisation, with notable projects including the Connecting Europe initiative (with Stiftung Mercator) and the Brussels Economic Security Forum.

The EPC operates a community-led go-to-market built on a multi-constituency membership of 350+ organisations drawn from corporates (e.g., Apple, Google, Amazon Europe, Equinor, Statkraft, ACEA, Vodafone Institute), professional and business associations, foundations, NGOs, diplomatic missions, regional bodies, and academic institutions. Members benefit from event access, publication delivery, rapid post-Summit analysis, and networking with EU decision-makers. Underlying delivery relies on an international Brussels-based team of analysts and support staff, supplemented by an External Experts and Senior Advisers pool and a Strategic Council, rather than on proprietary technology platforms.

The business model combines recurring annual membership fees (tiered €500–€12,500 by constituency, totalling €986,031 or 17% of 2025 income), foundation and EU programme grants (€400K King Baudouin Foundation, €436K Stiftung Mercator, €290K EC CERV, ~21% of income), and project contributions from organisations supporting specific programmes and events (€3,332,422 or 57% of income). Total 2025 income was €5,822,087 with a surplus of €14,845, ending the year with equity of €1,686,185. Governance is provided by a Governing Board and General Assembly, with senior leadership including CEO Fabian Zuleeg (since 2013), President Brigid Laffan (since 2022, former European Commission Vice-President), and Honorary President Herman Van Rompuy (former European Council President).

Name

European Policy Centre

Legal name

European Policy Centre

Website

https://epc.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The European Policy Centre is an independent Brussels-based think tank founded in 1996 that delivers policy analysis, publications, events, and the Language of Power podcast to a 350+ multi-constituency membership of corporates, associations, foundations, NGOs, diplomatic missions, and academic institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Analysis (Think Tank Services)

NAICS

Business Associations (81391), Political Organizations (813940), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

International & Comparative Education Policy Organizations (EDADADAL), Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF)

Keywords

• Policy research analysis
• EU policy think tank
• Policy publications
• Policy dialogue events
• Membership convening

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Approximately 17% of EPC's funding came from membership fees in 2025, totaling €986,031. Membership fees range from €500 to €12,500 depending on organisation type (corporates, professional associations, foundations, NGOs, diplomatic missions, regional bodies, academic institutions).
2. Foundation Grants: King Baudouin Foundation awarded €400,000 grant (strategic partner since 2002). Stiftung Mercator awarded €436,135 for Connecting Europe joint initiative. EC CERV programme operating grant of €290,000. Approximately 21% of total funding came from grants.
3. Project Contributions: 57% of funding (€3,332,422) came from contributions from organisations for programmes in the form of support for events and publications. This includes project-specific funding from various organisations and donors.
4. Donations - Friends of EPC Fund: Donations from organisations and individuals through the Friends of EPC Fund hosted by King Baudouin Foundation. Equinor donated €290,000 to the Friends of EPC fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The European Policy Centre is an independent, not-for-profit think tank that produces independent European policy research and analysis, delivers publications (commentaries, policy briefs, working papers, issue papers, op-eds, flash analyses, reports), convenes high-level policy events and dialogues (breakfast briefings, conferences, roundtables, task forces), and produces the Language of Power podcast. Its research is organised across seven thematic programmes covering health and societal resilience, European politics and institutions, migration and diversity, Europe's political economy, sustainable prosperity, Europe in the world, and transnationalisation.

Product overview

The European Policy Centre (EPC) operates as an independent not-for-profit think tank offering a comprehensive suite of policy research and engagement products. The core offering consists of publications (commentaries, policy briefs, working papers, issue papers, op-eds, and reports), events (policy dialogues, breakfast briefings, conferences, roundtables), and the Language of Power podcast series. Seven thematic programmes structure its research: Health and Societal Resilience, European Politics and Institutions, European Migration and Diversity, Europe's Political Economy, Sustainable Prosperity for Europe, Europe in the World, and Transnationalisation. Notable initiatives include the Connecting Europe project and the Brussels Economic Security Forum flagship event. Membership services provide access to events, publications, and networking opportunities across a multi-constituency stakeholder base.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Policy Publications Portfolio of policy publications including commentaries, policy briefs, working papers, issue papers, op-eds, flash analyses, and reports addressing major challenges facing the European Union and long-term trends underpinning EU policymaking. Used by policy professionals, member organisations, and the broader policy community.
• Events and Policy Dialogues High-level policy debates, breakfast briefings, conferences, roundtables, and workshops delivered in-person and online/hybrid formats, including flagship Post-Summit Briefings and the Brussels Economic Security Forum. Designed for EU policymakers, member organisations, and policy stakeholders.
• Language of Power Podcast Flagship podcast series featuring in-depth discussions on geopolitics, foreign policy, transatlantic relations, EU-China relations, defence, and EPC experts exploring Europe's geopolitical outlook. Distributed on Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, Deezer, and SoundCloud for broad public access.
• Health and Societal Resilience Programme Research programme focusing on society's ability to recover from crises and economic shocks, examining trust in governments on issues such as housing and healthcare. Structured as an ongoing research programme with publications and events.
• European Politics and Institutions Programme Research programme covering EU institutional architecture, governance, and policymaking, monitoring political developments at EU and member-state levels, with special focus on enlargement policy towards the Western Balkans, EU institutional reform, and illiberal trends.
• European Migration and Diversity Programme Research programme providing independent expertise on European migration and asylum policies, examining reform of the Common European Asylum System, border management, integration of beneficiaries of international protection, and links between migration and populism.
• Europe's Political Economy Programme Research programme focusing on EU economic governance, single market, digital, industrial, energy, trade, and economic security policies, including the Brussels Economic Security Forum examining EU-US-China dynamics.
• Sustainable Prosperity for Europe Programme Research programme exploring foundations and drivers for achieving a sustainable, resilient, and competitive European economy within planetary boundaries, engaging with the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Agenda.
• Europe in the World Programme Research programme scrutinising the impact of the changing international system on Europe, examining EU relations with major and middle powers, and focused on security and defence policy development.
• Transnationalisation Programme Research programme facilitating transnationalised debate on Europe's key challenges through enhanced collaboration with think tanks and civil society across Europe.
• Connecting Europe Initiative Joint initiative with Stiftung Mercator connecting civil society organisations with EU decision-makers, covering policy areas including future of Europe, democracy, youth, climate, migration, and other key issues.
• Brussels Economic Security Forum Annual flagship forum examining EU-US-China dynamics, changing international economic rules and statecraft, and related EU policy challenges.
• Membership Services Multi-constituency membership programme bringing together companies, professional associations, foundations, civil society groups, diplomatic missions, and regional associations, offering free event attendance, publications delivery, rapid EU Summit analysis, peer-to-peer networking, and access to leading political personalities via a tiered fee structure.

Quantifiable outcome

• 350+ member organisations representing main EU affairs stakeholders
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major, core/flagship and minor.

• Stiftung MercatormajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Foundation partnership since 2017, focused on the Connecting Europe initiative. Stiftung Mercator is a private, independent German foundation. The partnership aims to narrow the gap between the EU and citizens by enabling civil society, activists, think tanks, and academia to engage in EU decision-making processes.
• King Baudouin Foundationcore/flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002Strategic partnership since 2002. KBF is a Belgian public benefit foundation that has been fundamental in strengthening EPC's capacity as an independent think tank. KBF supports EPC's work on EU integration process, helps build the strategic direction, and is represented in EPC's governance structures. Hosts the Friends of EPC Fund.
• Compagnia di San PaolomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership (until 2014) creating joint programme of activities to strengthen collaboration between policymakers and researchers in Brussels and Italy. Worked on European democracy and governance, Europe in the world and global governance, European economic and social models, and integration and immigration.
• Bertelsmann StiftungmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the New Pact for Europe project launched in 2013, alongside King Baudouin Foundation, supported by a large consortium including EPC. Project aimed to encourage wider public debate on EU's future involving both policymakers and citizens.
• Think Tank Partners NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPC works with think tanks and policy institutes throughout Europe, exchanging ideas and producing joint policy recommendations. Partners include Policy Network, European Council on Foreign Relations, and various national think tanks.
• Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation on EU-China relations events, including organization of speech by Commission President von der Leyen outlining vision for EU-China relations in March 2023.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bruegel: Brussels-based economic policy think tank with a corporate membership model. Direct peer in EU economic governance analysis, sharing member overlap with EPC's Europe's Political Economy programme and competing for similar foundation and corporate support.
• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): Pan-European think tank with a pan-EU council structure delivering foreign policy analysis. Direct peer—comparable membership network of national EU member state offices, similar event and publication output, and similar reliance on corporate and foundation funding.
• Friends of Europe: Brussels-based think tank focused on EU policy debates, sustainable prosperity, and global affairs. Direct peer—similar membership base of corporates and foundations, similar event-led engagement model, and similar convening partnerships with EU institutions.
• CEPS (Centre for European Policy Studies): Brussels-based think tank producing EU policy research across economics, regulation, and foreign policy. Direct peer—similar member/donor model, similar programme structure, and competes for the same corporate, association, and EU institutional audience.
• Carnegie Europe: Brussels outpost of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, focused on European foreign and security policy. Direct peer—overlapping programmes (Europe in the World), similar diplomatic and corporate audience, and comparable convening role with EU officials.

Others

• Bertelsmann Stiftung: Large German foundation running the New Pact for Europe project with EPC. Partner and adjacent funder—overlaps thematically on European integration research, but operates primarily as a grantmaking foundation rather than a think tank in its own right.
• European Policy Institute Network (EPIN): Network of European policy research institutions coordinating comparative EU analysis. Adjacent enabler—EPC participates in EPIN-style networks, which amplify reach but do not directly compete for corporate members or projects.

Broad incumbents

• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS): German political foundation with a Brussels office conducting EU policy research and events. Broad incumbent—produces comparable EU policy analysis, but as part of a much larger foundation ecosystem tied to a national political party.
• Chatham House: London-based international affairs think tank with a broad global remit. Broader incumbent—operates in adjacent policy space with overlapping corporate membership and convening function, but with wider geographic and thematic scope than EPC's EU focus.

Emerging players

• Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS): Berlin-based think tank specialising in China and EU-China relations. Emerging player with partial overlap—shares the Europe-China policy niche and is an active EPC partner (e.g., 2023 von der Leyen speech), but focuses more narrowly on China.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/epc_eu
• Facebookfacebook.com/epcbrussels
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/european-policy-centre

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about European Policy Centre