Bruegel is a think tank devoted to policy research on economic issues. Based in Brussels, it launched its operations in 2005 and currently conducts research in five different focus areas with the aim of improving economic debate and policy-making.
Bruegel was recognised as the best international economics think tank worldwide (non-US) and the second best think tank worldwide (US and non-US), according to the 2020 Global Go To Think Tank Report.
It has a governance and funding model based on memberships from Member States of the European Union, international corporations, and other institutions.
History
Bruegel's name is a tribute to Pieter Bruegel, the 16th-century painter whose work epitomises unvarnished and innovative depictions of life in Europe. It also stands for the "Brussels European and Global Economic Laboratory", even though Bruegel does not consider its name to be an acronym. The think tank was initially co-founded by the economists Jean Pisani-Ferry and Nicolas Véron in 2002. It was officially endorsed by former French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder at the 40th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty in January 2003.
Former European Commissioner Mario Monti was instrumental in Bruegel's creation and became its first Chairman in early 2005, following the think tank's legal creation as an International Non-Profit Association under Belgian law and its first Board election in 2004.
The Board was successively chaired by Mario Monti (2005–08), Leszek Balcerowicz (2008–12), Jean Claude Trichet (2012-2020) and Erkki Liikanen (2020–present). Jean Pisani-Ferry was Bruegel's Director from January 2005 to April 2013 before being succeeded in his role by Guntram Wolff. Jeromin Zettelmeyer became the new Director of Bruegel in September 2022.
Bruegel moved to its current premises, on Rue de la Charité/Liefdadigheidsstraat 33 in central Brussels, in April 2005.
Research programme
Bruegel's research is divided into seven broad research areas: Banking and capital markets, Digital economy and innovation, European governance, Global economy and trade, Green economy, Inclusive economy, and Macroeconomic policies. The research programme is reviewed every three years while the research priorities are developed on a yearly basis in the autumn by the Board after discussions with Bruegel scholars, members and other stakeholders.
Publications and events
Bruegel's scholars regularly publish their research through post on the think tank's blog. For more in-depth analysis of their research topics, they also release policy briefs, policy contributions, working papers and blueprints. They have presented testimonies at the European Parliament and various national parliaments.
Bruegel also hosts events which gather experts, the public and various stakeholders for in-depth discussion on a range of policy issues. The events are often livestreamed with the video and audio recordings on Bruegel's website. In 2021, they hosted 93 events throughout the year and released 50 episodes of their podcast series "The Sound of Economics". This is in addition to over 150 blog posts and 45 publications.
Governance and funding
Bruegel is a non-profit international association under Belgian law (AISBL), governed by its Statutes and its Bylaws. Bruegel’s highest decision making forum is the General Assembly consisting of Bruegel’s members. It confirms the Board and elects six of its members directly.
The Board decides on strategy, adopts the research programme and budget and appoints the Director and the Deputy Director each for a period of three years renewable twice. Bruegel's board is elected for a three-year term by its members and consists of 11 individuals with backgrounds in government, business, academia and civil society. As of September 2020, its members were Erkki Liikanen (Chairman), Agnès Bénassy Quéré, Karolina Ekholm, Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo, Rachel Lomax, Isabelle Mateos Y Lago, Simone Mori, Elena Pisonero, Jörg Kukies, Monika Marcinkowska and Alessandro Rivera. The board decides on Bruegel's research agenda, a process that is conducted on a yearly basis and includes in-depth consultation of all members. It also appoints the director and deputy director, and oversees Bruegel's financial management and budget. However, under Bruegel's statute and bylaws, neither the Board nor the members can interfere in research results and publication decisions‚ the responsibility for which remains with the director and individual scholars.
Bruegel’s former chairs Leszek Balcerowicz and Jean Claude Trichet are honorary chairmen of Bruegel. Mario Monti is the founding chairman of Bruegel.
