Policy papers

ECRAN aims to publish 27 public research papers over three years. Information on forthcoming papers will be available on this website and there is a bidding process (outlined below) for experts interested in engaging with this research.

ECRAN research papers are approximately 15,000 words long, with experts given 40 days over a two month period to complete the work. Research topics are tailored to reflect the needs of EU policy-makers and are based on social, political or economic issues. Examples of past Long Papers can be found on the Resources page.

ECRAN papers may be written by just one researcher, or a senior researcher working alongside one to three junior research assistants. Either way, the total number of days worked must not exceed 40 days and we would expect a first draft of the paper to be completed within two months of the paper being commissioned. Research is paid, with some allowance for incidental costs (if relevant, please outline these in your application).

Senior researchers are those with more than ten years’ professional experience in a relevant subject area. Junior researchers are those with a post-graduate university degree and a minimum of five years' practical research experience.

If you would like to bid for a forthcoming paper, please download and complete the application form and upload through our form submission page. If you have not already submitted your completed CV to ECRAN, please also complete all sections of the ECRAN CV template and return to us on our form submission page. All researchers proposed for any one bid (senior and junior) must submit a completed ECRAN CV for your bid to be considered.

If you have a suggestion of topics for future papers, we would like to hear them. Please email your suggestions to .

Past publications are available in the publications database.