European Ideas Network

[2] With an active membership of around 3,000 policy-makers and opinion-shapers across the European Union, the EIN brings together foremost MEPs — as these represent the views of the European population, and then politicians, who coming from EU member states are confirmed to be democratically elected, hereafter businessman, academics, policy advisers, think-tankers, journalists and representatives of civil society who share a common outlook Europe-wide, as well as non-party experts and commentators interested in public issues being addressed.

[3] The network offers a unique forum in which to develop innovative ideas about the policy challenges facing Europe in the years ahead and to formulate practical solutions to help address them.

[6] It initially had eight working groups in 2002 covering: the implications of globalisation and demographic change; the promotion of democracy and accountability in the EU; how to create jobs in Europe; the role of the private sector in providing public services; the crises in farming and food safety; the sustainability of EMU; and defence and security in the post-11 September world.

[17] The co-chairs of TAG are Paulo Rangel for Europe and Congressman Jeff Duncan for the US; the co-secretaries generals are Guillermo Martínez Casañ and Walid Phares.

The European Ideas Network engages in a variety of activities including seminars and working breakfasts, most notably in the annual "Summer University," to achieve and promote its goals in accordance with the principles outlined under its current policy guidelines.