Advice, Capacity Building & Communication
The Institute has a long track record of monitoring and analysing the European environmental agenda - aiming to help others to contribute to policy debates as well as doing so ourselves. Drawing on twenty-five years of experience, we offer tailored advice, information and training to public sector and public interest organisations. We have helped many to build their capacity and we provide continued support in line with changing needs and new ambitions.
The Institute provides advice and intelligence on developments in the range of EU policies affecting the environment to a number of government and non-governmental organisations. Advice is tailored to the needs of each organisation, and typically includes weekly and/or monthly policy briefings, alerts to new official documents (legislation, proposals, etc) and policy tracking services. We also provide an 'enquiry service' to clients, enabling them to access IEEP expertise as and when they require; and a facility to respond to more extended research requests. Intelligence and advice is based on the combined resources of all IEEP research staff, who together, monitor and analyse EU policy developments across a large number of sectors.
Training is a key element of capacity building. We focus on mastering the process, style and substance of European policy making through bespoke training and seminars. Study visits to Brussels may be involved. More in-depth capacity building over a longer period of time can also be offered. This includes working with organisations relatively new to the Union, for example; environmental NGOs in new Member States, on particular aspects of EU policy or institutional issues.
Whether the aim is to inform or influence, or both, communication is vital. The Institute has experience of the opportunities and constraints of trying to reach a European audience. IEEP produces a number of newsletters, such as El Anzuelo, on fisheries and the environment- see our publications database for details. In parallel, we contribute to external publications on both a routine and ad hoc basis. Our regular contributions include articles for the IUCN newsletter on EU biodiversity policy and articles on pollution policy developments for Environment Business and the Environmentalist.
Funded work of this kind is managed alongside a commitment to education. Institute staff are regularly invited to lecture at universities, for example, the College of Europe in Bruge and the University College in London. We provide speakers for conferences and seminars where we can in areas where we have expertise.
For further information, please contact Emma Watkins