The Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA) is the first transeuropean research network in the field of European affairs. It consists of leading research institutes in the field of European affairs throughout Europe, with an office in Brussels. TEPSA is an international non-profit association under Belgian law (AISBL) and was established in 1974. Ever since then it has steadily increased its membership in response to the enlargement rounds of the European Union. Today TEPSA consists of 47 Member Institutes and Associate Members located in 37 European countries.
TEPSA Objectives and Approach
TEPSA’s aim is to provide high quality research on European integration based on a ‘Triple A’ approach: Analysis, Assessment and Advice in order to stimulate discussion on policies and political options for Europe.
TEPSA and its member institutes have engaged in a two-fold approach providing expertise on EU policies and politics combined with a vast experience in organising and conducting EU-wide research, training and networks.
With its decentralised approach, TEPSA combines the strengths of its members and enriches the results of their work. TEPSA exemplifies the ‘bottom-up’ approach to European governance. TEPSA and its member institutes are a link between the EU and national level governments and the citizens.
TEPSA aims at stimulating discussion on policies and political options by organising research projects, conferences and facilitating interaction between the research and policy-making communities and between citizens from different member states. TEPSA’s activities are undertaken in close cooperation with partners ranging from TEPSA member institutes from all over Europe to EU institutions, national governments, universities and civil society.
TEPSA Structure
The association is governed by its members via a general management organ (the General Assembly), which elects the administration organ (the Board) for a period of three years. The chairperson of the TEPSA Board is Prof.Lucia Mokrá, Dean of the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences of Comenius University in Bratislava. The Secretary General, responsible for the daily management of the association, is Jim Cloos. TEPSA’s Brussels office employs six to eight staff members and it coordinates TEPSA’s daily management. The organisation has diverse sources of funding, which can be categorised under four pillars: membership fees, co-financed joint activities, EU-funded projects, such as PONT and FEUTURE, and studies for the European Parliament.
TEPSA Pre-Presidency Conferences
TEPSA’s flagship event, the TEPSA Pre-Presidency Conference, is a bi-annual forum in which TEPSA member institutes discuss the priorities of the incoming Council Presidency and other topics relevant to the current and future EU agenda with representatives from national and European political institutions, civil society, the media and academia. TEPSA provides its input by formulating and presenting recommendations to the incoming Presidency and to the EU more broadly.
TEPSA EU-Projects
TEPSA is currently involved in different EU-Funded Projects:
- TEPSA is a recipient of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme Operating Grant, aimed at bringing the EU closer to its citizens.
- TEPSA is a partner in two Horizon 2020-funded project ‘DiCE – Differentiation: Clustering Excellence‘;
- TEPSA is also managing a European Parliament-funded project ‘EP4U’, aimed at raising citizens’ awareness of EU policy-making;
- TEPSA also delivers expertise to the European Parliament by elaborating studies or briefings or organising workshops in the field of development cooperation and human rights.
TEPSA Membership
TEPSA continues to broaden its membership. This enlargement process is steered by the TEPSA Board and voted upon at TEPSA’s General Assembly. TEPSA also continues to look for new partnerships and funding opportunities for the future.
For more information please contact TEPSA’s Executive Director Mariam Khotenashvili.
Resources:
The TEPSA Network
