CERRE POLICY ON TRANSPARENCY AND INDEPENDENCE
CERRE’s aim is to inform our think tank’s membership and policy makers on better regulation of network and digital industries in Europe and beyond. This implies that our activities support and contribute to the development, implementation and adaptation of regulatory framework and provisions which protect and optimise the interests of users and consumers of the services provided by those industries, which assertively uphold citizens’ democratic rights, and which incentivise innovation and investment.
This can only be achieved by applying to all activities the highest standards of quality, relevance, timeliness, transparency, and independence.
I. Academic Independence
The first of CERRE’s guiding values, enshrined in our Bylaws, is independence in everything we do. Independence is essential to the relevance of our work, to our credibility and to our impact. It is being implemented with utmost rigour by the think tank’s Board and management and staff.
II. Academic Team
CERRE’s academic team, led by the Academic Director and Co-Directors, gathers around 30 Research Fellows based in top-ranking universities throughout Europe and the world.
The Academic Director and Co-Directors are guarantors of the scientific quality of our activities, ensuring also that these take account of the most recent developments in research.
All CERRE research goes through a peer review process whereby a senior academic will assess the robustness of the methodology, analysis, and recommendations of each piece of research.
CERRE requires its academic team to declare any conflicting interests and, when necessary, project reports contain disclosure statements.
III. CERRE Members
CERRE’s membership includes independent regulators, corporations, institutions and academic research centres operating in our fields of expertise. The think tank has set up a unique governance model where regulatory and corporate/institutions members have the same representation and rights.
When joining CERRE, all members commit to abide by the strict scientific independence of our researchers and their work. Furthermore, the diversification of our membership (i.e., mixing regulators and regulated entities, large and smaller players from different industry sectors or sub-sectors), and the mutualised character of our research (leading to a composition of projects’ steering committees mixing most of the time representatives of conflicting interests) provide additional guarantees that no member is able to influence the completion and contents of our activities.
A list of current members is available on the CERRE website and it is regularly updated to reflect changes in membership.
IV. CERRE Projects
While our members are consulted in the development of our work programmes and actual activities, the CERRE academic leadership and the Director General remain the final decision-makers regarding the definition and content of all activities. CERRE will always list the names of the organisations that provided support and that were represented on projects’ steering committees. This is clearly outlined in the colophon of all project publications.
Sponsors are invited to review and comment upon draft studies or reports before they are published. The research teams have an obligation to consider all comments, but they have full independence to decide whether they accept them or not. This ensures the relevance and applicability of the project’s recommendations, as well as its scientific excellence and independence. Communication between academics and sponsors is exclusively conducted through the think tank’s staff.
At all times during the research process, the academic project lead, the Academic Director or Co-Directors, and CERRE’s Director General remain the final decision-makers concerning a projects’ content and results.
V. CERRE Events
CERRE organises regular events such as in-person and online high-level conferences, debates, and expert workshops that provide a vibrant and trusted forum for interaction between academia, industry, regulators, policy makers, and the civil society.
At the forefront of research on complex issues, we do not shy away from difficult questions or answers. Our events connect a variety of highly relevant stakeholders with varied perspectives.
During its events, CERRE is committed to creating space for different viewpoints to raise awareness on critical issues, provide an informed debate, and foster pioneering thinking.
VI. Funding
CERRE is a non-profit association under Belgian law (ASBL/VZW). CERRE’s funding comes from two streams: membership fees – according to a grid approved each year by the General Assembly – that have represented in 2023 47% of total revenue, and – without prejudice to the think tank’s renown, strict independence – contributions to our research projects.
CERRE’s accounts are independently audited and the official accounts are published in accordance with Belgian law.
VII. Further Information
CERRE’s bylaws (its Articles of Association) are drawn up in French under provisions of Belgian law, and the English version is an unofficial translation for information purposes only. The French text prevails in the event of any ambiguity or conflict between the two versions.
CERRE is registered on the Transparency Register of the European institutions (identification number: 015271191850-18).
