The European Institute (EI) is an independent policy centre that was founded in April 1999 just before Bulgaria started EU membership negotiations. Since its creation the Institute has become one of the leading Bulgarian independent policy and research centres dealing with matters related to European integration. It has commendable in-house expertise of practitioners who have worked with the EU and boast a profound understanding of the process of Europeanization and legal harmonization and compatibility within Member States.
EI has developed a comprehensive network of external experts in key areas like Social policies, Justice and Home Affairs, Migration policy, Agriculture, Security, SME business, etc. Over the years this network has also widened to include representatives from Central and South East Europe. EI’s expertise is widely recognized both by the governmental institutions and non- governmental community in Bulgaria, South East Europe, Turkey and the Eastern Partnership countries.