History and Name

The idea to set up a new, independent European think tank devoted to international economics stemmed from private discussions involving policymakers, business leaders and other individuals from several European countries in late 2002. The idea was endorsed and officially floated by France and Germany in their joint declaration in Paris on January 22nd, 2003*.

Following this declaration, a project group was created to develop and refine the concept, with the support of the concerned French and German ministries. The initiative subsequently found support from 12 EU governments and 17 leading European corporations, who committed the project's initial funding base (5 million euro over 2004-2006) and participated in the election of its first Board in December 2004.

Bruegel was created as a Belgian Non-Profit International Association (or AISBL) on 10 August 2004, by a Decree of the King of Belgium endorsing its statute. A temporary project structure was put in place, which ended with the first Board meeting on 17 January 2005.

Since then, Bruegel has been building up its team and capacity to contribute to economic policy debate. An important milestone was passed in October 2005 with the adoption of the initial research programme. In January 2007, the research programme for 2007 was adopted by Bruegel‘s board.

*"In order that Europe can make its full contribution to international debates on economic, financial and trade policy, and have a greater capacity for analysis and initiating proposals, thereby strengthening its position in these spheres, France and Germany have decided to launch a European initiative for the creation of a European centre for the international economy devoted to those objectives. This centre, which could be located in Brussels, should progressively be able to open up to all the European partners‚ member states, EU institutions and private-sector businesses."

Item 30 of the joint declaration by Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schröder on 22 January 2003, on the 40th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty.

Tribute to Pieter Bruegel

The name Bruegel was chosen because of its extraordinary evocative potential and resonance with the think tank's aims and identity. Pieter Bruegel drew his inspiration from the keen observation of the life of ordinary people and daily economic activity, thus echoing Bruegel‘s concrete orientation and focus on facts-based research and analysis. He introduced motion in his pictures as no artist had done before him. He was born in the Netherlands, trained in Flanders and Italy and was inspired, among others, by German painters such as Dürer, before his death in Brussels in 1569. He lived in a Europe that was marked by disorder but also by intense exchanges across countries, an unprecedented opening to the world and the revival of ideas, an epoch which, for Bruegel, the think tank, can act as a stimulating source of inspiration.