Europe+ Foundation : Making Europe + Attractive + Competitive
La Baule WIC

Organization

I. Founders

The Europe Plus Foundation is founded by Ernst & Young and the PGA Group The foundation is jointly presided by: Patrick Gounelle, CEO, Ernst & Young in France and Southern Europe and Pierre Guénant, Chairman, PGA group.

II. Objectives

The Foundation is intended to serve the European Union as a tool for reflection and the development of recommendations in support of the operational implementation of the reforms provided for in the Lisbon Agenda. At the same time, it offers European businesses, regional organizations and, in time, representatives of civil society sharing a desire to contribute to the European project, the means to make their views known and influence developments.

In so doing, it intends to provide the European Union, its Member States and its regions with a tool for the governance of public policies in promoting Europe’s attractiveness.

III. Tasks

The Europe+ Foundation is active in three areas:

  • Think Tank

    • A network of senior business and political leaders, academics, and experts specializing in regional development and innovation. Each year, this group issues practicalrecommendations in a report sent to EU leaders and heads of member states.

  • World Investment Conference

    • The annual World Investment Conference, now in its seventh year, is a benchmark for high-level exchanges on issues related to European attractiveness. On this occasion, E&Y announces the results of its annual survey of the attractiveness of Europe and its regions.


    • Thematic conferences

    - The Euromed Investment Conference, for boosting innovation, talent and investment in the Mediterranean
    - The Transatlantic Green Platform, for developing R&D in green technologies
    - The California Tech Show, connecting European and US key players


    • Private and public projects and partnerships

    Contributing to European programmes for innovation and economic development, through both endogenous and exogenous growth, Europe+is project leader of GASD, set up to develop a pan-European competitiveness cluster dedicated to maritime safety.

    All three areas reflect a commitment to advancing policies for innovation, growth and sustainable development—and in so doing contributing to the attractiveness and competitiveness of Europe.

IV. Funding

The Foundation’s budget for 2008 is in the vicinity of €1.8 million. It is a model for public-private partnership, with 45% of funding from public sources and 55% from the private sector.

Download the structure of the EUROPE+ Foundation