Brussels International Center

EU Legislative Interests

The BIC's project “Rethinking Security in the 2020s" addresses key issues such as hybrid warfare, evolving security threats, and the pandemic's implications, mainly through research publications. Under this project, we’ve also organized multiple events with the Egmont Institute to facilitate high-level dialogues on Syria and Afghanistan, where we considered imperative action to guarantee security, human rights, and strategic responses from the EU and UN. This project has also produced research reports considering the implications of the 2024 U.S. election on EU and Middle East security policies, as well as the intersectionality between the EU’s migration policies and human security crises. Under this project we target: The EU Strategic Compass; Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP); EU transatlantic relations and relations with NATO; EU migration policy. The BIC's EU-Gulf Connect Project builds upon the EU's Strategic Partnership with the Gulf. This project promotes intensified collaboration between the two regions in trade, energy, security, research and innovation, and cultural exchange. Its goal is to streamline EU-Gulf relations, enhance regional prosperity, and catalyze discussions on developments in the strategic partnership. The outputs of this project are mainly research reports, and we have also organized virtual convenings of experts to discuss the findings of our research. Under this project we target: European Green Deal, Energy Security and Green Transition; EU Trade and Investment Policy; EU-driven digital and technological innovation. In the BIC project "Peace and Democratic Development" we focus on supporting the promoting the pillars of democratic governance, including freedom of expression, the integrity of electoral processes, and rule of law. The BIC is committed to strengthening democratic institutions and peacebuilding, and have produced numerous research papers and analysis on democracy in Tunisia, Turkey, Sudan, Ukraine, and Israel and Palestine. In this project we target: EU Enlargement and Neighborhood Policies; European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights; EU diplomatic engagement on human rights and democracy.

Communication Activities

BIC promotes its research and analysis by regularly publishing research papers, and organising high-level conferences, and roundtables, which facilitated constructive dialogue between policymakers, civil society, international organizations. Due to the sensitive nature of conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, we have been working behind the scenes with policy makers and complimenting this with public awareness campaigns. Over the past year, the BIC expanded its activities by advancing its flagship project, “Rethinking Security in the 2020s,” addressing key issues such as hybrid warfare, evolving security threats, and the implications of the aftermath of the pandemic. The BIC has also been actively contributing to discussions on EU policy areas, notably partnering with the Egmont Institute to host high-level dialogues on Afghanistan, focusing on security, human rights, and the EU and UN’s strategic responses. Recommendations from these events were presented to the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with Afghanistan and were further developed into a detailed policy paper with actionable recommendations for EU and UN leaders. This is a small selection of our activities, our full list of activities can be found in our annual reports, available on our website. With regards to our publications, here is a short list of recent publications relevant to the EU policies listed above. "The EU’s Strategic Partnership with the Gulf: One Year On." This publication examines the collaboration between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in sectors related to the energy transition, such as desalination technologies, green building, and renewable energy. It highlights the shared goals of achieving carbon neutrality, aligning with the objectives of the European Green Deal. Strategic Compass: "Strengthening EU Defence and Foreign Policy: A 2022 Assessment." This analysis delves into the EU's Strategic Compass, assessing the current strategic environment, identifying risks and challenges, and proposing concrete actions. It emphasizes the EU's approach to global power dynamics and security threats. "A Critical Analysis of Ursula von der Leyen's State of the Union Address." This piece discusses the adoption of the Strategic Compass, outlining its framework for the EU's security and defense strategies up to 2030. It details specific actions and timelines across key areas such as Act, Secure, Invest, and Partner. EU Migration Deal: "Turkey and the Weaponization of Syrian Refugees." This research paper analyzes the EU-Turkey migration deal, critiquing the instrumentalization of the refugee crisis and its broader implications for EU migration policy. "Critical Analysis of the EU's Migration Pact on International Refugee Day". This commentary examines the EU's migration policies in light of the proposed Pact on Migration and Asylum, highlighting concerns about the shift towards restrictive measures. Through these publications, BIC contributes to informed discussions and policy-making processes related to the EU's strategic initiatives.

Interests Represented

Does not represent commercial interests

Member Of

The BIC is a member of networks and organizations that align with its mission of advancing policy dialogue and research on global challenges. These memberships are not tied to EU institutions and are on a volunteer base: - Friends of Europe – A leading Brussels-based think tank fostering inclusive dialogue on EU policy. The BIC is member of Friends of Europe’s Women for Thought Leadership Network. - European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO) – A civil society platform promoting sustainable peacebuilding efforts. The BIC participates at their Civil Society Dialogue bi-monthly. - Egmont Institute - The BIC collaborates with the Egmont Institute to organize high-level roundtable discussions on critical topics such as the security and human rights situation in Afghanistan, the EU’s Strategic Compass, and Middle East regional stability, bringing together policymakers, experts, and civil society. These events have resulted in actionable recommendations, including policy papers and strategic insights, which directly inform EU decision-making processes and external actions.

Organisation Members

The BIC collaborates with a wide range of partners, supporters, and affiliated entities for research, events, training, and internships. These include: Event and Roundtable Collaborations: - Friends of Europe: Collaborated on high-level policy discussions around EU security and development policies. - Egmont Institute: Co-organized roundtables on security and human rights in Afghanistan. - She for Change: Partnered for events and campaigns focused on advancing women’s rights and gender equality. - European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO): Engaged in policy dialogues on peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Research Partnerships: - Policy Center for the New South: Jointly produced research papers on global security and development challenges. Academic Collaborations: - London School of Economics (LSE): Hosted an event moderated by Ambassador Marc Otte focusing on EU foreign policy. - Maastricht University: Engaged in internship programs for students to support their academic and professional development. - Kent University: Supported internship opportunities for students in areas related to BIC’s research priorities. Training and Education: - All Digital: Participated as speakers in training programs for refugees, focusing on digital literacy and inclusion. Through these memberships, partnerships, and affiliations, the BIC strengthens its capacity to address critical global challenges, foster inclusive policy dialogue, and contribute to EU and international policy frameworks.

Additional Information

In 2024 BIC`s total revenue was €460,600 This funding was unrestricted and not tied to specific projects or programmes. The BIC prides itself its full independence and impartiality, and our research and analysis follows strict guidelines that assess the credibility of our sources, potential risk of bias, and accuracy of information. It should be stressed that the objectives of our activities is to foster discussion and provide forward-thinking, pragmatic, and concrete analyses to policy-makers, governments, and civil society. We bring added value to the highest levels of political discourse by bringing systemic issues to the forefront of the conversation. In this way, we do not to push any specific political or business interest.