European Council on Foreign Relations

Foreign Policy Research and Analysisecfr.eu

The European Council on Foreign Relations is a Berlin-based, pan-European non-profit think tank founded in 2007, producing foreign-policy research, public opinion polling, and digital products for European governments, academics, media, and the public across eight European offices and Washington.

Company typePrivate
Founded2007
HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
Headcount101–250
GTM typeB2B
OfferingServices

What European Council on Foreign Relations does

The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) is a pan-European, non-profit think tank founded in 2007 and registered in Berlin as European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) e.V. (Amtsgericht Charlottenburg VR 37797 B). It is the first think tank structured explicitly as pan-European rather than nationally based, operating from eight European offices — Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Rome, Sofia, Warsaw — plus a Washington office, and organizes its work into programmes covering Africa, Asia, European Power, European Security, Middle East and North Africa, and the United States, with an additional Geoeconomics and Tech initiative.

ECFR produces a portfolio of analytical and multimedia products serving European government officials, diplomats, academics, media, and the broader foreign-policy-interested public. Core outputs comprise Policy Briefs, Commentaries, Policy Alerts, Web Specials, podcasts including Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes, and videos on ECFRTV. The organization has layered recurring digital products onto this base: The Data Collection (launched 2023) provides open-access cross-country European public opinion polling, and the Iran Nuclear Monitor (launched 2025) is a monthly scenario-based interactive dashboard. Flagship multi-year projects — Re:Engage (a Horizon Europe consortium project, 2022), Re:Order, DARE* on democratic resilience, and the New Politics Project — extend output into EU-influenced policy and democratic-resilience domains, with the Annual Council Meeting serving as the primary convening event.

ECFR's business model is donation- and grant-funded; all publications, policy briefs, commentaries, podcasts, and event content are made freely available. The organization functions under German non-profit law with a Board comprising founder-director Mark Leonard and Vessela Tcherneva, and a research leadership team including Jeremy Shapiro as Research Director and Director of the US programme. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. No proprietary technology products are developed; the underlying technical surface consists of policy research, polling-based data platforms (The Data Collection), and interactive dashboards (Iran Nuclear Monitor).

European Council on Foreign Relations firmographics

Firmographics

Name: European Council on Foreign Relations
Legal name: European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) e.V.
Website: https://ecfr.eu
Company type: Private
Founded year: 2007
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 101–250 employees
Short description: The European Council on Foreign Relations is a Berlin-based, pan-European non-profit think tank founded in 2007, producing foreign-policy research, public opinion polling, and digital products for European governments, academics, media, and the public across eight European offices and Washington.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

European Council on Foreign Relations industry classification

Industry

Product category: Foreign Policy Research and Analysis
NAICS: International Affairs (928120)
SIC: International Affairs (9721), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
akta.pro primary industry: Multilateral Diplomacy & International Representation (UN, Regional Bodies) (BPAIAIAC)
akta.pro secondary industry: Border Security, Maritime Security & Transnational Threat Cooperation (BPADAFAJ)

Keywords

Foreign policy research
Policy analysis
Geopolitical intelligence
Public opinion polling
International relations

Where European Council on Foreign Relations is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Berlin
HQ country: Germany
HQ region: Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

European Council on Foreign Relations business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

European Council on Foreign Relations product offering

Product offering

Core offering

The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) is a pan-European think tank that produces foreign policy research, analysis, and recommendations on Europe's relations with China, Russia, the US, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It operates across eight European offices plus Washington D.C., and delivers its work through Policy Briefs, Commentaries, Policy Alerts, Web Specials, podcasts, videos, newsletters, events, and dedicated data platforms such as The Data Collection (public opinion polling) and the Iran Nuclear Monitor.

Product overview

ECFR is a pan-European think tank producing policy research and analysis on European foreign relations. The organization operates a portfolio of analytical products including Policy Briefs, Commentaries, Policy Alerts, and Web Specials, complemented by multimedia content through Podcasts and Videos. The organization offers several flagship digital platforms including The Data Collection (open-access public opinion polling data), the Iran Nuclear Monitor (interactive monthly assessment dashboard), the Power Atlas, and Re:Engage (Horizon Europe project). ECFR also publishes newsletters across multiple regions and topics, and organizes events including its Annual Council Meeting. The organization maintains thematic programs on Africa, Asia, European Power, European Security, Middle East and North Africa, and the United States, plus initiatives on Geoeconomics and Tech.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

The Data Collection Open-access data platform providing access to ECFR's public opinion polling data, enabling research and insight on key foreign policy issues.
Iran Nuclear Monitor Interactive monthly monitor tracking Iran nuclear activities and assessing six possible scenarios for the country's nuclear program development.
Re:Engage Horizon Europe-funded project helping the EU refine its foreign policy, re-engage neighbours post-Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and advance enlargement policies.
Re:Order Project exploring emerging visions of the global order and the interplay between economic might and geopolitical influence.
DARE* Project focused on democratic resilience and addressing threats to democratic processes in Europe.
New Politics Project Project examining the transformation of politics and emerging political movements across Europe.
Power Atlas Special publication examining how power is defined by control over flows of people, goods, money, and data through global connections.
Annual Council Meeting ECFR's flagship annual gathering bringing together council members and experts to discuss pressing foreign policy issues.
Policy Briefs In-depth analytical reports on European foreign policy issues, providing detailed research and policy recommendations on topics including China, Russia, transatlantic relations, and global order.
Commentaries Shorter analytical pieces offering expert opinions and insights on current foreign policy developments and events.
Policy Alerts Time-sensitive policy updates providing rapid analysis on breaking foreign policy issues and developments.
Web Specials Interactive digital features and specialized web-based content including dashboards and data visualization projects.
Podcasts Audio content including Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes weekly podcast and ECFR on Air series featuring expert discussions on foreign policy.
Videos (ECFRTV) Video content including event recordings, expert interviews, and visual presentations on European foreign policy topics.
Newsletters Subscription-based email updates including a flagship weekly newsletter, regional office updates (Berlin, London, Rome, Sofia), and themed updates (Africa, MENA, US, European Security, Geoeconomics and Tech).
Events In-person and virtual events featuring expert discussions, private briefings, public panels, and scenario games on European foreign policy topics.

Companies that use European Council on Foreign Relations

Customer profile

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

European Council on Foreign Relations technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

European Council on Foreign Relations partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

European Council on Foreign Relations competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Regional players

Clingendael Institute: Dutch think tank on international affairs with a primarily Netherlands-based audience. Comparable in producing policy briefs, commentaries, and events on European foreign policy, though more regionally focused than ECFR.
Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI): Swedish foreign policy research institute publishing analyses on European and international affairs. Comparable in scale and product mix to ECFR, though primarily serving a Swedish audience.
Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI): Italian think tank on international politics and European integration. Operates from Rome alongside ECFR's Rome office and addresses overlapping themes including EU enlargement, Mediterranean policy, and transatlantic relations.

Broad incumbents

Atlantic Council: Washington-based think tank producing research and convening on transatlantic and global issues. Broader incumbent with overlapping Europe and security programming and similar media and government audiences.
Brookings Institution: Large US-based public policy research organization with a Europe-focused program. Functions as a broader incumbent covering international affairs alongside many other policy areas, serving governments, media, and academics.

Direct peers

Carnegie Europe: Brussels-based pan-European arm of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Closest direct peer to ECFR in combining European foreign policy research with strong media presence and EU-institutional access.
Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): London-based independent policy institute producing international affairs research, events, and analysis. Most direct global peer to ECFR in mission, audience (governments, media, academics), and product formats (briefings, podcasts, events).
German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF): Transatlantic policy institute with European offices. ECFR's founder was previously a GMF Transatlantic Fellow, and both organizations focus on transatlantic relations, European security, and democracy support.
International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): Global think tank producing research on international security, geopolitical risk, and strategic policy. Overlaps with ECFR's European Security program and serves a comparable government, media, and academic audience.
Centre for European Reform (CER): London-based think tank focused on EU policy and UK-European relations. Founded by Mark Leonard before ECFR, CER is a close peer in topic area and was a precursor in Leonard's policy-research career.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

European Council on Foreign Relations financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

European Council on Foreign Relations leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

European Council on Foreign Relations funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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European Council on Foreign Relations M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about European Council on Foreign Relations

What does European Council on Foreign Relations do?

Is European Council on Foreign Relations a public or private company?

European Council on Foreign Relations is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was European Council on Foreign Relations founded?

European Council on Foreign Relations was founded in 2007. It employs 101 to 250 people.

Where is European Council on Foreign Relations based?

European Council on Foreign Relations is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.

Who are European Council on Foreign Relations's main competitors?

Regional players on record are Clingendael Institute, Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI) and Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI). Broad incumbents are Atlantic Council and Brookings Institution. Direct peers are Carnegie Europe, Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs), German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and Centre for European Reform (CER).

Does European Council on Foreign Relations have an API?

No public API is recorded for European Council on Foreign Relations.

What industry is European Council on Foreign Relations in?

European Council on Foreign Relations's product category is Foreign Policy Research and Analysis. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAIAC, Multilateral Diplomacy & International Representation (UN, Regional Bodies), with a secondary code of BPADAFAJ, Border Security, Maritime Security & Transnational Threat Cooperation. Its NAICS code is 928120 and its SIC code is 9721.