Trans European Policy Studies Association

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Trans European Policy Studies Association
AbbreviationTEPSA
Formation1974
TypeResearch organisation
HeadquartersBrussels
Website www.tepsa.eu

The Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA) is a European network of research institutes and think-tanks in the field of European affairs. Founded in 1974, it is an international nonprofit association under Belgian law with 44 member organisations in 37 different European countries, [1] and an office in Brussels.

Contents

History

TEPSA was founded in 1974 by four research institutes: the Institut für Europaische Politik (Germany), the Istituto Affari Internazionali (Italy), the Federal Trust for Education and Research (UK) and the Association Française pour l’Etude de l’Union Européenne (France). In 1978, upon the accession of its Belgian member, Prof. Jacques Vandamme, former adviser to Belgian Prime minister Leo Tindemans, [2] was designated president of the association. TEPSA progressively extended its membership to 20 institutes in the year 2000. In 2016, full membership was opened to organizations from all European countries outside the European Union, allowing TEPSA to expand to 38 members in 2017. The current Chairman of the TEPSA board is Prof. Michael Kaeding  [ de ] (University of Duisburg-Essen), succeeding to Prof. Wolfgang Wessels (University of Cologne).

In 2016, TEPSA was ranked as 12th best think-tank network by the University of Pennsylvania’s Global Go To Think Tank Index Report, an annual ranking of the world’s best think-tanks. [3]

Aims and activities

TEPSA aims at maintaining a stable framework for transnational research cooperation in the field of European affairs, and providing new opportunities for academics and students in the field, mainly through EU-funded research and education projects. With one member in each EU country and members in EFTA, Eastern Neighborhood and candidate countries, but also a number of associate members, TEPSA seeks to stimulate discussion on policy options for Europe by bringing together academics and students from across the continent, and connecting them with practitioners and policymakers.

Since its founding in 1974, TEPSA organises a conference twice a year with academics and policymakers on the agenda of the upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union (the Pre-Presidency Conference), where it delivers a set of recommendations to representatives of the presiding member state. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] The conference is jointly organised with and hosted by the member organisation in the concerned country.

TEPSA also regularly delivers its members' expertise to the European Parliament in briefings and studies. [9] [10]

TEPSA members

Full members

CountryMember
Austria Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS)
Bulgaria New Bulgarian University (NBU)
CroatiaInstitute for Development and International Relations (IRMO)
Cyprus University of Nicosia, Department of European Studies and International Relations
Czech Republic Institute of International Relations (IIR)
Denmark Danish Institute of International Studies (DIIS)
EstoniaEstonian Foreign Policy Institute (EVI)
Finland Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA)
FranceCentre of European Studies, Sciences PoCNRS
Germany Institute for European Politics (IEP)
GreeceGreek Centre of European Studies and Research (EKEME)
HungaryInstitute of World Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
IcelandInstitute of International Affairs and Centre for Small State Studies, University of Iceland
Ireland Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA)
Italy International Affairs Institute (IAI)
LatviaLatvian Institute of International Affairs (LIIA)
Liechtenstein Liechtenstein Institute
LithuaniaInstitute of International Relations and Political Science (IIRPS)
LuxembourgRobert Schuman Centre of European Research and Studies, University of Luxembourg
North MacedoniaFaculty of Law Iustinianus Primus, Ss. Cyril and Methodus University in Skopje
MaltaInstitute for European Studies, University of Malta
Netherlands Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael
Norway Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI)
PolandEuropean Institute Łódź
PortugalPortuguese Institute of International Relations, New University of Lisbon (IPRI-NUL)
RomaniaRomanian Centre for European Policies (CRPE)
SlovakiaInstitute of European Studies and International Relations (IESIR), Comenius University
SloveniaCentre of International Relations, University of Ljubljana
Spain Elcano Royal Institute of International and Strategic Studies
Sweden Swedish Institute for International Affairs (UI)
Switzerland Center for Comparative and International Studies (CIS), ETH Zurich and University of Zurich
TurkeyCenter for European Studies (CES), Middle East Technical University (METU)
Ukraine Razumkov Centre
United Kingdom The Federal Trust for Education and Research

Associate members

CountryMember
Belgium College of Europe, Bruges Campus
Poland College of Europe, Natolin Campus
France Centre International de Formation Européenne (CIFE)
Montenegro Faculty of Economics Podgorica, University of Montenegro
The NetherlandsEuropean Institute of Public Administration (EIPA)

Governance

Board members

NamePosition
Prof. Michael Kaeding  [ de ], Chairman of the BoardProfessor and Jean-Monnet Chair in the Department of Political Science of the University of Duisburg-Essen. [11]
Prof. Jaap de Zwaan , Secretary GeneralEmeritus Professor of European Union Law, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, and former Lector in European Integration, The Hague University for Applied Sciences. [11]
Mr. Pierre Florent Peterkenne, TreasurerFormer auditor at Ernst & Young Company Auditors. [11]
Dr. Katrin Böttger, Board MemberDeputy Director of the Institut für Europäische Politik (IEP), Berlin. [11]
Prof. Michele Chang, Board MemberProfessor in the Department of European Political and Governance Studies of the College of Europe, Bruges. [11]
Prof. Atila Eralp, Board MemberDirector of the Center for European Studies and Professor in the Department of International Relations of the Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara. [11]
Dr. Juha Jokela, Board MemberDirector of the European Union Research Programme at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA), Helsinki. [11]
Prof. Petr Kratochvíl, Board MemberDirector of the Institute of International Relations (IIR), Prague, and Chairman of the Academic Council of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. [11]
Dr. Sabina Lange, Board MemberLecturer at the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA), Maastricht, and Senior Associate Analyst at the EU Institute for Security Studies (EUISS), Paris. [11]
Prof. Lucia Mokrá, Board MemberDean of the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences of Comenius University, Bratislava. [11]
Prof. Frank Schimmelfennig , Board MemberProfessor at ETH Zurich and Director of the Center of Comparative and International Studies of ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich. [11]
Dr. Funda Tekin, Board MemberSenior Researcher at the Centre international de formation européenne (CIFE), Berlin, and Senior Research Adviser at the Institut für Europäische Politik (IEP), Berlin, Vice-Director of the University of Cologne. [11]

Honorary board members

NamePosition
Graham AveryHonorary Director-General of the European Commission, Senior Adviser at the European Policy Centre (EPC). [11]
Andrew Duff Former Member of the European Parliament, 1999-2014. Former President of the Union of European Federalists. Visiting fellow at the European Policy Centre (EPC) [11]
Christian FrankHonorary Professor, Université Catholique de Louvain. [11]
Jean Paul JacquėHonorary Director General and Special Councillor at the Council, Professor at the University of Strasbourg and at the College of Europe. [11]
Jean-Victor LouisHonorary Professor, Université Libre de Bruxelles. [11]
Jacques VandammeHonorary President of the Study Group for European Policies (SEP-GEPE). [11]
Guy VanhaeverbekeHonorary Director of the European Parliament Information Service. [11]
Wolfgang Wessels Jean Monnet Chair ad personam, University of Cologne, former Chairman of the TEPSA Board. [11]

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