The Madariaga - College of Europe Foundation is dedicated to promoting original thinking on the role of the European Union in an era of global change, engaging citizens and international partners in a creative debate on the issues that shape Europe’s future. Through research and action, the Foundation pursues a three-fold mission of challenging the citizen, empowering Europe, and preventing conflict.
The Foundation’s activities are supported by research and articles published in the form of a Madariaga Paper

Madariaga Paper

Madariaga Papers are the regular publication of the Madariaga - College of Europe Foundation, a Brussels-based think tank concentrating on issues such as citizenship, economic governance, EU-China relations and conflict prevention...

 and regular events, seminars and lunch-time debates, the Citizen's Controversies.
The Foundation bears the name of the founder of the College of Europe: Spanish writer, minister in the Spanish Republican government, historian, diplomat and philosopher Salvador de Madariaga

Salvador de Madariaga

Salvador de Madariaga y Rojo was a Spanish diplomat, writer, historian and pacifist. He had two daughters....

 (1886-1978).
The Foundation is presided over by Javier Solana

Javier Solana

Francisco Javier Solana de Madariaga, KOGF is a Spanish physicist and Socialist politician. After serving in the Spanish government under Felipe González and Secretary General of NATO , he was appointed the European Union's High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary...

. Jean-Luc Dehaene

Jean-Luc Dehaene

-Early life and political career:He was born in Montpellier, France, when his parents were fleeing German troops. He got into politics through the Algemeen Christelijk Werknemersverbond , a trade union which was closely linked to the Christelijke Volkspartij .In 1981, he became Minister of Social...

 presides over the Foundation’s Executive Committee and Pierre Defraigne

Pierre Defraigne

Pierre Defraigne currently serves as Executive Director for the Brussels-based think-tank the Madariaga - College of Europe Foundation.From 1970-2005 he served as a European civil servant as Head of Cabinet for Etienne Davignon , Director for North-South Relations, Pascal Lamy's Head of Cabinet...

is Executive Director.