European Strategy Forum

The European Strategy Forum has established itself as a preferred meeting place of top policymakers linked with or close to the European Council, senior officials in the other EU institutions, representatives of the EU’s more important global partners and senior figures from the business world, academia and the media.

 

One of our corporate participants recently described the Forum as ‘the gold standard’ for EU-related meetings. We are inclined to agree. There are furthermore several fairly obvious explanations of why this is so. Firstly, and by no means least, the meetings take place in exclusive and very beautiful settings. Secondly, the programmes enable participants to reflect upon the most important issues on the EU’s agenda. Thirdly, and most important of all, the composition and size of the group ensure that the debate is entirely confidential, extremely well-informed and highly relevant. Over half of the participants at every meeting are either current or recent insiders, who know how the EU system works and what it can and cannot deliver.

 

The ESF will meet two times a year, once in Croatia and once in Portugal. The Spring meeting will be about the euro and the EU’s economic policies, while the Autumn meeting will be about the Union’s Strategic Priorities in the following year.

 

Peter Ludlow will co-chair every meeting together with one of EuroComment’s Senior Advisers.