Centrum für Europäische Politik

The Centrum für Europäische Politik (Centre for European Policy – CEP) is a think tank whose task it is to evaluate the European Union’s draft laws/legislation on the basis of ordoliberal free market criteria. Established in 2006 under the umbrella of the foundation Stiftung Ordnungspolitik, the CEP is based in Freiburg/Germany^[1]. It is run by Dr.^[2], chairman of the executive board of the Stiftung Ordnungspolitik and the Friedrich-August-von-Hayek-Stiftung. Members of the board of trustees^[3] are Roman Herzog, Leszek Balcerowicz, Frits Bolkestein and Hans Tietmeyer.

Aims and objectives

The CEP works at the interface between science, politics and the public, and its aim is to consolidate, at EU level, policy which orients itself towards freedom and a free market economy while reducing regulation and red-tape to a minimum. As a centre of expertise, the CEP builds a bridge between EU politics and public awareness of EU politics in Germany^[4]. In a steady dialogue with academics, political decision-makers, the media and the public, the CEP develops strategies and concepts for the economic policy of the EU, monitors the EU’s most current political projects in a constructive and independent manner, and creates transparency and awareness for European policy and its impact on Germany.

The CEP endeavours to inform the public about developments at EU level and the impact of EU policy, at the same time proposing concrete options for action. In addition, the CEP produces expert reports and analyses and advises politicians from all parties on EU economic policies. The academic foundation of the work are ordoliberal free market principles.

Background - Stiftung Ordnungspolitik

CEP is the European think tank of the Stiftung Ordnungspolitik. The foundation strives to maintain and further develop the ordoliberal tradition of the Freiburg School of Economics. This school of thought was originally founded by Walter Eucken, substantially refined by Friedrich August von Hayek and put into political practice by Ludwig Erhard, the minister for economic affairs who helped to ignite the economic miracle in post-war Germany.

Based on the continued development of ordoliberal economics, the foundation drafts realizable policy options and draws public attention to the importance of ordoliberal thinking. The CEP carries out these tasks within the context of European policy making.

The Stiftung Ordnungspolitik is a non-profit organisation concerned with the ordoliberal tradition of the Freiburg School of Economics. It strives to maintain and further develop ordoliberal economic thinking that is based on the ideas of Walter Eucken and Friedrich August von Hayek.

The foundation drafts realizable policy options and advocates public discussion of ordoliberal concepts and ideas. To this end, it regularly organises lectures and panel discussion with well-known politicians, scientists and economists such as Angela Merkel, Reinhard Bütikofer, Bert Rürup or Kai-Uwe Ricke.

The foundation was founded in December 1999 to mark the 50th anniversary of Walter Eucken’s death. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (CEP), which operates under the umbrella of the Stiftung Ordnungspolitik, is the foundation’s think tank on European Union policy. It uses ordoliberal criteria to analyse major EU policy projects in order to be able to inform and advise politicians, the media and the public. Chairman of the executive board of the Stiftung Ordnungspolitik and the Centrum für Europäische Politik is Dr. Habil.^[2]. Members of the board of trustees are Roman Herzog, Hans Tietmeyer, Leszek Balcerowicz and Frits Bolkestein.

References

1. ^ CEP in brief.
2. ^ ^{a b} Lüder Gerken
3. ^ Members of the Board of Trustees.
4. ^ Policy Fields.

External links

• Link to the Centre for European Policy
• Link to the Stiftung Ordnungspolitik