EPIC - the European Policy Information Centre	TRAINING ON THE EU CONSULTING SHORT COURSES AND CONFERENCES EPIC draws on the insider knowlege of over 100 practitioners and scholars from across Europe. We bring together experts with those keen on furthering their understanding of the EU.
EPIC is an independent network of consultants and trainers. Founded in 1999 by a group of academics within the London School of Economics and Political Science, EPIC does not act on behalf of any governmental office or European institution. We therefore 'tell it as it is' and point to the strengths but also to the shortcomings of the European project.	Dr Andreas Staab, Managing Director
TRAINING WITH EPIC Our trainers are leading professionals and academics and have consulted, trained and published widely on the EU. EPIC has worked with prime ministers and high school students, supreme court judges and journalists, governmental officials and lawyers, business executives and NGO representatives from all parts of the world. We apply innovative teaching methods that encourage creative thinking. Our courses accommodate different levels of knowledge and different professional backgrounds and our teaching style is proactive with the emphasis on practise-oriented exercises and problem-solving learning experiences.	CONSULTING Our ever expanding team of experts addresses the broadest range of issues related to Europe and the European Union, whether from an economic, business, social or political perspective. ln addition to our strong academic foundation, we also count practitioners as our members who work for business associations, international organisations, in the legal sector, in the media, in public administration and in the non-governmental field. Over the years we have been particularly active in the following areas:                       ·         Agriculture and rural development ·         Cohesion and Regional Policy ·         Energy ·         Economic governance ·         Police and judicial co-operation ·         Legal Harmonization ·         Citizenship, youth and civil society For further information please click on the link 'OUR EXPERTISE' at the top of this page.
SUMMER SCHOOL Over the past eight years, we have been running a number of summer schools in the picturesque town of Vrboska on the Croatian island of Hvar. For 2012, we are offering a three day intensive course (September 13-15) which is open to the public, and which will give a precise account of recent EU developments. Once again, we were able to keep our course fee at a low level, in order to enable as many participants as possible to join us in Hvar.  EU Updates: New Developments in the European Union September 13- 15, 2012 Fee: 160 Euro (plus 20 Euro per day halfboard) The course will be taught by Dr Andreas Staab, with additional contributions from guest lectures who will be confirmed nearer the time. At this stage, Dr Robert Hancke (London School of Economics), Tony Bass ((College of Europe, Bruges) and Ian Baker (EPIC's Team Leader for cohesion and rural development) have expressed an interest in joining us. More information on the course time table, the seminar location, travel advice and on how to register can be obtained by clicking on 'Summer School' at the top of this page.	VRBOSKA, ISLAND OF HVAR
Current Projects EPIC is currently implementing a multi annual project on Rural Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Under the leadership of Ian Baker, and financed by the British Embassy in Sarajevo, the project aims to enhance understanding of the EU's cohesion policy and its impact on rural development. EPIC managed to integrate a number of the country's key stakeholders at state, entity and local level and our team is working closely with a range of actors on such issues as programming, programme management, partnership building and project cycle management with the ultimate aim of improving the preparation and delivery of economic and social cohesion. For more information, please click on the link 'Bosnia' on the top of this page.  We have also established a partnership with RIPA - the Royal Institute for Public Administration and are implementing a series of EU programmes on a broad range of issues, ranging from Procurement and Contract Management to EU fund access, and EU law. For more information you might want to access www.ripainternational.co.uk/EU_Programmes. Finally we like to welcome Graham Waddell - our new team leader for energy who has just implemented a successful seminar series held in collaboration with the Belgrade Open Society in Serbia.	GET IN TOUCH for any further information please contact: Dr Andreas Staab Managing Director EPIC - the European Policy Information Centre 8 Coleridge Walk London NW11 6AT UK phonefax: (+44) 20 8458 5612 email: staab@epicseminars.com