Centre for the New Europe

The Centre for the New Europe is a think tank based in Brussels. Its hosts events for policymakers, parliamentarians and journalists, and publishes reports and books on a range of libertarian topics. It promotes "pro-market" and "European liberal" policies for the European Union.

Founded in 1993 by a Belgian lawyer and a Belgian journalist after a meeting in the Hilton Hotel on the Toison d'Or in Brussels, it is very strongly pro-free-market, with a particular focus on the privatisation of healthcare. It is a member of the International Policy Network and regularly collaborates with other members of the Atlas Economic Research Foundation network. It is also a member of the Stockholm Network of European free-market think tanks.

CNE-USA was established to allow for tax-deductible American donations to the Centre, although the organization itself does not operate in the US.

The funding of the CNE is intransparent. It failed to answer a think tank survey by the Corporate Europe Observatory in 2005. However, the annual reports of Exxon Mobil reveal that CNE in 2003 and 2004 received $40,000 and $80,000 respectively for its "Global Climate Change Education Efforts".

"We find that support for liberal ideas--free trade, social tolerance, economic liberty--extends far beyond Europe's Liberal parties. Therefore, we back no party or programme. We find that liberalism has friends and enemies in every party. We hope to unite its friends and persuade its enemies."

KEY QUOTES

"The Kyoto Protocol is failing because it is ineffective, costly, and unfair. It is also 'scientifically flawed' and not needed. It is likely to be replaced by other treaties and regulations to limit the use of energy and restrict economic growth. Such developments must be attacked with a strategy that uses both science and economic analysis."

Key deeds

6 September, 2000 Released the transcript of a talk given by S. Fred Singer, entitled "Climate Policy - From Rio to Kyoto: A Political Issue for 2000 and Beyond". Singer promoted his ideas that the climate is not warming, and therefore there is no justification for the Kyoto Protocol.

27 May, 2004 S. Fred Singer is scheduled to speak at a CNE event in Brussels entitled "The Kyoto Protocol is Dead; Good Riddance". In addition to his criticisms of the Kyoto Protocol, Singer is scheduled to address the film "The Day After Tomorrow"

Funding

Centre for the New Europe has received $120,000 from ExxonMobil since 1998.

2003

$40,000 ExxonMobil Foundation Global Climate Change Program Source: ExxonMobil 2003 Corporate Giving Report

2004

$80,000 ExxonMobil Foundation Center for New Europe - USA Source: Exxon Giving Report 2004

Other funding sources are not disclosed. However, according to Corporate Watch:

A source in Brussels told Corporate Watch that the CNE receives 50% or more of its funding from Pfizer. The sums involved are very large. The Netherlands-based Edmund Burke Foundation took over $400,000 from Pfizer in 2001-5 and imploded when Pfizer stopped funding them.

Board

• Digby Anderson London
• Mattias Bengtsson Stockholm
• John Blundell London
• David Evans Cambridge
• Carol Martino Rome
• Daniel Oliver Washington
• Wilfried Prewo Hanover
• Catherine Windels (Director of International Affairs, Pfizer), New York

Staff

• Tim Evans, President
• Janie Kong, Vice President Public Relations and Development
• James Rogers, Executive Director Marketing and IT
• Luuk van Middalaar, Visiting Fellow
• Alberto Mingardi, Visiting Fellow
• Hardy Bouillon, Chairman, Academic Advisory Board
• Richard Miniter, Senior Fellow
• Stephen Pollard, Senior Fellow
• Carlo Stagnaro Speaker, Source: Center for the New Europe website 4/04
• Gabriel Calzada Visiting Fellow, Source: Center for the New Europe website 4/04

Academic Advisory Board

• Hardy Bouillon, Chairman, Academic Advisory Boar Source: Center for the New Europe website 4/04
• Prof. Louis de Alessi, USA
• Prof. Marcel van Meerhaeghe, Belgium
• Prof. Peter Bernholz, Switzerland
• Dr. Gerrit Meijer, The Netherlands
• Prof. Walter Block, USA
• Prof. Angelo Petroni, Italy
• Prof. Boudewijn Bouckaert, Belgium
• Prof. Gerard Radnitzky, Germany
• Prof. Enrico Colombatto, Italy
• Prof. Pascal Salin, France
• Prof. Victoria Curzon-Price, Switzerland
• Dr. Gerhard Schwarz, Switzerland
• Prof. Frank van Dun, Belgium
• Dr. Jiri Schwarz, Czech Republic
• Prof. Hannes Gissurarson, Iceland
• Dr. Arthur Seldon, UK
• Lord Harris of High Cross, UK
• Prof. Gordon Tullock, USA
• Anthony de Jasay, France
• Prof. Christian Watrin, Germany
• Prof. Wolfgang Kasper, Australia
• Prof. Atilla Yayla, Turkey
• Prof. Václav Klaus, Czech Republic
• Dr. Albert Zlabinger, Austria
• Prof. Antonio Martino, Italy

Contact information

Centre for the New Europe
Rue du Luxembourg 23
B-1000 BRUSSELS, Belgium
Phone: +32 2 506 40 00
Fax: +32 2 506 40 09
Web:http://www.cne.org/index.htm

Sources

• ExxonMobil 2003 Corporate Giving Report
• Singer talk at CNE: "Climate Policy from Rio to Kyoto" 9 June 2000
• Center for the New Europe website 4/04
• Exxon Giving Report 2004
• Exxon's published report on annual giving

External links

• Corporate Europe Observatory, Transparency unthinkable? Financial secrecy common among EU think tanks, July 2005