Since October 2013, Dr. Fabian Zuleeg has been Chief Executive of the European Policy Centre, with overall responsibility, including providing strategic direction, managing its staff and resources and representing the EPC. He remains Chief Economist at the same time (a post he has held since January 2010). Fabian holds a PhD on the political economy of EU accession from Edinburgh University. Before coming to the EPC, he worked as an economic analyst in academia, the public and the private sector.
His analysis focuses on the political economy of the future of European integration in the context of political dis-cohesion within the EU and a contested, challenging global landscape. His current work is concentrated on determining how EUrope can meet the triple challenge of the watershed of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the fundamental transformations EUrope has to go through (technological revolution, climate change mitigation and demographic change), and the Permacrisis, a term he coined with EPC colleagues in 2021.
Fabian also focuses on transnational cooperation between European Think Tanks, with the aim of increasing the capacity, ethics and sustainability of the sector. He is currently a Member of the Executive Board of Transparency International EU, Honorary Fellow at the Europa Institute of the University of Edinburgh and Honorary Professor at Heriot-Watt University. He also chairs the International Philanthropy Committee for the King Baudouin Foundation.
Fabian works closely with decision-makers in the European institutions, the EPC members and partners, European think tanks and the wider Brussels and member state stakeholder community. Fabian regularly comments on current political and economic issues in the EU in the media. He also chairs and contributes to a wide range of debates, conferences and seminars and has researched and published widely on the future of European integration, global challenges, Brexit and on European economic and social policies.
For all invitations, meeting requests and other enquiries addressed to Fabian Zuleeg, please contact Dragalina Moraru, Executive Assistant (d.moraru@epc.eu).
PROJECTS
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Europe’s political economy, Future of Europe, EU relationship with third countries, transnational think tank cooperation
CURRENT POSITIONS
Honorary Professor, Heriot-Watt University
Honorary Fellow at the Europa Institute, University of Edinburgh
Chair of the International Philanthropy Committee, King Baudouin Foundation
Member of the Executive Board, Transparency International EU
EDUCATION
PhD in Economics (The Political Economy of Accession of the Central and Eastern European Countries to the EU), Edinburgh University
MSc in Economics, Glasgow University
MA in Economics and International Relations, St Andrews University
LANGUAGES
German, English
The uncertainty surrounding Keir Starmer’s political future has quietly reopened a debate Labour once treated as politically radioactive: Britain’s long-term relationship with the European Union. Starmer himself had already edged toward closer cooperation and something resembling dynamic alignment with Brussels. Now, some potential successors are going further still, openly entertaining the once-unthinkable prospect of rejoining.
The uncertainty surrounding Keir Starmer’s political future has reopened a debate Labour had tried hard to avoid: Britain’s long term relationship with the European Union. Starmer himself had already shifted considerably towards closer cooperation and dynamic alignment with the EU. Some potential future Labour leaders are now going further still, openly speculating on the possibility of rejoining.
Fabian Zuleeg spoke on CCTV about United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio's absence from a NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting.
"Ursula von der Leyen steht in ihrer Rede zur Lage der Union vor einer schwierigen Aufgabe", sagte Fabian Zuleeg, Geschäftsführer des European Policy Centre (EPC), und verwies auf die innenpolitischen Turbulenzen in vielen Mitgliedstaaten, wie z.B. in Frankreich, als weiteres Problem.
Fabian Zuleeg, Chief Executive at the European Policy Centre think-tank, said that he expects the speech to be significant and closely watched in Europe.
"A lot has happened over the last year. A lot of things which are more on the negative side rather than on the positive side. So people will be looking at how will she react to that,” he told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Direktør i EU-tænketanken European Policy Centre, Fabian Zuleeg, siger: ”Danmark har foretaget en stor kurskorrektion, og det vil være en enorm hjælp for dets formandskab. I stedet for at være en bremse for fremskridt kan Danmark nu fungere som initiativtager og motor for ambitiøse nye initiativer”.
Fabian Zuleeg, Chief Executive and Chief Economist at the European Policy Centre (EPC), argues that the US president is looking for an excuse to pull out of the conflict in Ukraine and to normalise relations with Putin.
"Europe is being very careful not to antagonize President Trump even further by looking maybe too close to China, so all of that doesn´t make this summit easier," said Fabian Zuleeg, chief economist of the European Policy Center. "It will be very hard to achieve something concrete."
“Europe is being very careful not to antagonise President Trump even further by looking maybe too close to China, so all of that doesn’t make this summit easier,” said Fabian Zuleeg, chief economist of the European Policy Centre. “It will be very hard to achieve something concrete.”
“Europe is being very careful not to antagonize President Trump even further by looking maybe too close to China, so all of that doesn’t make this summit easier,” said Fabian Zuleeg, chief economist of the European Policy Center. “It will be very hard to achieve something concrete.”
BEIJING (AP) — China and the European Union have issued a joint call to action on climate change during an otherwise tense bilateral summit in Beijing on Thursday riven with major disagreements over trade and the war in Ukraine.
BEIJING (AP) — China and the European Union have issued a joint call to action on climate change during an otherwise tense bilateral summit in Beijing on Thursday riven with major disagreements over trade and the war in Ukraine.
Three-day forum co-hosted by CCG and CPAFFC brought together over 300 participants from nearly 60 countries to explore global governance, China-EU relations, and the evolving Middle East order.
En una entrevista amb l'ACN, Zuleeg creu que les accions del president estatunidenc “no haurien de sorprendre” tenint en compte el seu programa electoral, i avisa que s'acosten temps turbulents. “Per Trump això va d'assumptes pendents, vol deixar empremta i aconseguir aquelles coses que no va aconseguir durant la seva primera presidència”, assenyala.
The proposed US framework “essentially hands Russia a victory it cannot achieve on the battlefield,” said Fabian Zuleeg, chief executive of the European Policy Centre in Brussels. “It’s an alignment with Russia, a betrayal of Ukraine and of our security.”
“There’s the whole trade agenda, and while she’s not officially negotiating, we know Trump likes these informal exchanges,” said Fabian Zuleeg of the European Policy Center.
“It is a very delicate mission,” said Fabian Zuleeg, chief economist at the European Policy Center think tank in Brussels. “There is the whole trade agenda, and while she’s not officially negotiating, we know that Trump likes to have this kind of informal exchange, which in a sense is a negotiation. So it’s a lot on her plate.”
“It is a very delicate mission,” said Fabian Zuleeg, chief economist at the European Policy Center think tank in Brussels. “There is the whole trade agenda, and while she’s not officially negotiating, we know that Trump likes to have this kind of informal exchange, which in a sense is a negotiation. So it’s a lot on her plate."
Ms Meloni was in close contact with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen before the trip
“What we are going to move towards is the global trade war, which reduces global growth, reduces the ability of countries to keep inflation under control,” Fabian Zuleeg, the chief executive of the European Policy Center think tank, said before Trump reversed course. “So what we're seeing is a global downturn.”
“What we are going to move towards is the global trade war, which reduces global growth, reduces the ability of countries to keep inflation under control,” Fabian Zuleeg, the chief executive of the European Policy Center think tank, said before Trump reversed course. “So what we're seeing is a global downturn.”
Fabian Zuleeg, chief executive and chief economist at the European Policy Center, said on Monday: "It's difficult to know how to respond (to the US tariffs) because it is unprecedented. What we've seen is the cancellation of decades-long principles that have guided international trade by the biggest economy, by the main proponent of that system. But it is going to be a question over weeks, over months, also with always the possibility of an escalation if the EU responds. So it's going to be a difficult process," he said.
La Comisión Europea plantea un nuevo canal de deuda común con 150.000 millones de euros para compras conjuntas, grandes proyectos y el apoyo de los Estados miembros a Ucrania
La Comisión Europea plantea un nuevo canal de deuda común con 150.000 millones de euros para compras conjuntas, grandes proyectos y el apoyo de los Estados miembros a Ucrania
Ces dernières années ont montré à quel point l'UE est bloquée lorsque l'Allemagne n'est pas dans un rôle de leadership, estime Fabian Zuleeg, directeur de l'European Policy Center basé à Bruxelles. "Nous avons vu de l'instabilité en Allemagne. Nous avons vu comment des décisions ne peuvent tout simplement plus être prises. À Bruxelles, la crainte est très forte que rien ne change après les élections", explique l'économiste.
Die letzten Jahre hätten gezeigt, wie sehr es die EU behindere, wenn Deutschland nicht in einer Führungsrolle sei, sagt Fabian Zuleeg, Leiter des Brüsseler European Policy Center, der DW. "Wir haben eine Instabilität in Deutschland gesehen. Wir haben gesehen, wie Entscheidungen einfach nicht mehr getroffen werden können."
“Not every countries are going to be offered the same deal, it will be very difficult to maintain the unity,” according to Fabian Zuleeg, chief executive and chief economist at the European Policy Centre said, adding: “Those that Trump sees as being friendlier to the US will be offered a way out.”
“Not every countries are going to be offered the same deal, it will be very difficult to maintain the unity,” according to Fabian Zuleeg, chief executive and chief economist at the European Policy Centre said, adding: “Those that Trump sees as being friendlier to the US will be offered a way out.”
"Trump non è solo una sfida per la politica estera europea, ma un test per la sua coesione interna", sottolinea Fabian Zuleeg, economista dell'Epc
"In this permacrisis age, we don’t necessarily put in place permanent cohesion mechanisms."
Europe’s competitiveness is under threat, amplified by a world defined by predatory economic actors, coercion, and a growing shift toward mercantilism without rules. Open markets alone are no longer enough when interdependence is weaponized and state power is used to distort competition. The ability to protect oneself economically has become a precondition for prosperity.
For a Commentary Piece concerning the EU leader's retreat 12 February 20296.
Fabian Zuleeg was interviewed by Nepszava on Orban's role in the EU's efforts to stop the war in Ukraine.
Read it here.
Fabian Zuleeg was interviewed by the New York Times on Denmark seeking protection for Greenland from the European states in light of recent comments made by the Trump administration.
Read it here.
Fabian Zuleeg was interviewed by Greek daily Kathimerini on the shift of political “geography” in Europe.
Read it here!
Janis Emmanouilidis and Fabian Zuleeg's paper 'Eight structural innovations' was mentioned by Euronews in their article on the future of EU governance reform.
Read it here!
Read the article here. (In German)
Read the article here.
Read the article here. (In German)
The article was published on 30 July in German.
Read the full article here. (In German)
Read the article here.
Read the article here.
Watch the interview here. (In Serbian)
Read the article here.
