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.

[2] It has a governance and funding model based on memberships from Member States of the European Union, international corporations, and other institutions.

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.

[5] The board was successively chaired by Mario Monti (2005–08), Leszek Balcerowicz (2008–12), Jean Claude Trichet (2012–2020) and Erkki Liikanen (2020–present).

Bruegel also hosts events which gather experts, the public and various stakeholders for in-depth discussion on a range of policy issues.

In 2023, Bruegel hosted 81 events throughout the year and released 53 episodes of the podcast "The Sound of Economics",[3] which amassed 181,910 listens across all platforms.

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 June 2024, its members were Erkki Liikanen (chairman), Riccardo Barbieri Hermitte, Agnès Bénassy-Quéré, Markus K. Brunnermeier, Paula Conthe, Alexandra Dimitrijevic, Caroline de Gruyter, Monika Marcinkowska, Isabelle Mateos y Lago, Simone Mori and Tom Scholar.

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.

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 professional staff is responsible for the organisation's outreach, developing stakeholder relationships and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations.