The European Policy Institute in Kyiv (EPIK) is an independent think tank bringing together Ukrainian and European expertise to advance policy debates on European security and Ukraine’s EU accession. Its mission is to provide decision-makers across Europe with forward-leaning policy ideas that translate into actionable outcomes.
EPIK invites political analysts from Ukraine and across Europe who work in Kyiv to give our local and international fellows a chance to collect first-hand insights, be deeply immersed in the local context, and gain easier access to Ukrainian decision-makers and civil society experts. Through engagement in research and advocacy projects, they will gain a better understanding of local perspectives and grow their expertise in the Eastern Europe region.

Policy fellows contribute to public debates through their policy briefs, commentaries, and other materials on issues such as geopolitics, Europe’s security and defence, Ukraine’s EU accession and reforms, post-war reconstruction, and economic development.

EPIK will serve as a gateway for decision-makers — both in Ukraine and across Europe — to expertise on Ukraine and innovative ideas to inform policymaking on Ukraine’s EU accession and European security issues.

EPIK’s overall objective is to contribute to enhanced democratic governance and socio-economic development in the EU. EPIK aims to:
● Facilitate sustained policy dialogue between Ukraine and the European Union on the expert level;
● Contribute to informed policymaking on Ukraine’s EU accession and European security;
● Enhance the capacity of policy making in Ukraine;
● Provide international experts with access to Ukraine’s policy landscape;
● Produce solution-oriented policy analysis relevant for both Ukraine and the EU.

1. Enhanced local capacity for sound policymaking: the dissemination of policy papers, analysis, op-eds, social media content, and media appearances will contribute to a better policy-making and informed decision-making.
2. Strengthened cross-border partnerships and collaborations: through strengthening local expertise and engagement, the EPIK aims to foster partnerships and collaboration between think tanks, experts, and other stakeholders across Ukraine and the EU.
3. Increased policy coherence and effectiveness across the region: by promoting dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders, the EPIK aims to enhance policy coherence and effectiveness across Europe concerning Ukraine.
4. Improved public and media discourse: by producing locally-based knowledge and engaging in a continued dialogue, the EPIK seeks to inform and improve public and media discourse related to Ukraine. This will help combat misinformation and foster a more constructive public debate.
5. epik.eu Improved policies and improved lives in Ukraine: better understanding, partnerships and coherence will lead to improved policies on key issues concerning EU’s neighbourhood. It will foster EU approximation and lead to increased resilience and prosperity, improving the lives of people in the region.