The European Network of Agricultural and Rural Policy Research Institutes (ENARPRI) was created in 2003 at the initiative of the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS). ENARPRI brings together leading national institutes and research teams from 13 countries of EU-25. The network aims to create an institutional structure which will lead to improved exchange of information and policy research insights. It will also contribute to the development of tools and methods and the organization of EU wide researc h programmes which are closer aligned with the interests and demands of the users of the policy research. In addition, there is scope for significant positive spill-over effects and economies of scales within the network by avoiding overlap in the development of models for quantitative evaluations and in developing policy scenarios, and by linking comparative advantages of various institutes through network collaboration. The activities of the Network are co-ordinated and managed by CEPS.

The activities of ENARPRI include the organisation of workshops and conferences, the publication of working papers and policy papers and the formulation of joint research programmes.

The central themes of this network is the impact of regional, bilateral, and multirateral trade agreements which the European Union has concluded or is negotiating, including WTO, enlargement, Everything But Arms (EBA), EuroMed, Mercosur; as well as, the multifunctional model of European agriculture and sustainable development of rural areas.

In summary, the expected achievements of the network are:

(a) in the creation of an institutional structure linking key research institutes with major benefits for improved exchange of information and policy analysis both in the short and long run,

(b) in the development of improved tools for impact assessment,

(c) in more effective impact assessment of trade agreements on a variety of important social, economic, and environmental indicators and an assessment of multifuctionality,

(d) clearer analysis of the need for EU policy adjustments.

The ENARPRI Network is financed by the European Commission under its 5th Research Framework Programme.

ENARPRI coordinator is Prof. Jo Swinnen, Senior Research Fellow, CEPS / Professor, K.U.Leuven.

Additional information on ENARPRI activities and research projects can be obtained from Eleni Kaditi, Research Fellow, CEPS.