An independent policy centre, founded in 1999 in response to Bulgaria’s increased efforts at speeding up the process of preparing for EU membership. The mission of EI is to support the efforts of governmental and non-governmental agencies to successfully prepare Bulgaria for EU membership through research, technical assistance, raising public awareness and training.

Through its activities it aims to achieve the following goals:

• Produce research on wider policy areas related to EU enlargement
• Provide timely and useful policy advice on specific issues related to the accession process
• Stimulate debate on EU enlargement and the costs and benefits of accession
• Strengthen the capacity of stakeholders in the accession process to participate more actively in the process of preparing for EU membership

EI’s English website contains the list of EI projects, downloadable in English or Bulgarian, and provides regular information about new and forthcoming activities of EI.