The European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) is the EU’s think tank for foreign and security policy. Its core mission is to provide analysis on security and defence issues, and organise discussion forums to help formulate EU policy. It also acts as an interface between European experts and decision makers. Based in Paris, the EUISS is an agency of the European Union (EU) with full intellectual freedom.

History

The EUISS was inaugurated on 2002/01/01, evolving from the Western European Union Institute for Security Studies, as part of a gradual transfer of powers from the Western European Union to the EU.

Mission

Activities

EUISS produces policy-oriented analysis through publications and events. The Institute's flagship publication is the Chaillot Paper series, complemented by shorter policy Briefs and news-driven Commentaries. EUISS events bring together EU officials, national experts, academics, decision-makers, media, and civil society representatives from both EU Member States and the wider world. These events aim to foster dialogue, enhance analytical capacity and shape common approaches.

Research

The EUISS researches topics related to the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), including the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The Institute covers EU relations with the following regions: Africa, Asia, Middle East, Russia and eastern neighbours, Transatlantic relations and Latin America, and Western Balkans. In addition to these geographical regions, the EUISS addresses different thematic areas such as security and defence, cybersecurity, conflict prevention, crisis management, global governance, economic security, transnational security, foreign information manipulation and interference.

Oversight and Funding

The Institute is funded by member states of the European Union, according to a GNP-based cost-sharing formula. It is governed by the Political and Security Committee (PSC), which exercises political supervision; and a Board, which lays down budgetary and administrative rules and approves the Institute's work programme. The Board is composed of representatives of EU member states and chaired by the HR/VP Josep Borrell.

European Strategy and Policy Analysis System

In 2011, the EUISS, in its role as the European agency for strategic studies, was chosen by the European Commission to prepare and deliver the final reports of the European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS).