All think tanks try to have an input in the policy process. While they have not been under the spotlight, they are increasingly visible, and the legitimacy of their input into policy-making may be questioned in the future, as indicated by Steve Waters' recent article. This is particularly the case for 'Euro-think tanks', as EU politics, fairly or unfairly, are perceived as too technocratic, even elitist, and insufficiently transparent. On Thursday 20 and Friday 21 October 2005, members of the European Policy Institutes Network (EPIN) met with representatives of the European institutions, the public affairs community and the media to learn, and contribute (Annex 1 provides a list of participants). This was the first of a series of EPIN Think Tanks Taskforce meetings.

Summary_EPIN_Transparency_TTT_20-21_Oct_05_public_version_01.pdf

Articles by Stephen Boucher :

• Clinton, Obama, McCain - Europe's Best Hope for Fighting Climate Change
• France's EU policy elite still ponders consulting the voters
• Citizens need to participate, too
• Quack remedies for an imaginary ailment
• Power to the People