The Ad Hoc Council

Founded in 1975, The Ad Hoc Council is a unique forum. Council members and invited guests represent a wide range of interests and are engaged at a senior level in commercial activity across Europe and beyond. The aim of the Council is to foster off the record high level dialogue between business, industry, services, EU, member state and European policy makers. Guests and members engage informally in a collegiate way and bring depth of knowledge, breadth of vision and deep experience to our discussions. Intellectual curiosity beyond individual interests and sectors, senior level experience of policy making, business and politics are key facets of our membership profile and activities, as is the desire to meet and engage with likeminded colleagues. Speakers typically deliver short, often unscripted remarks followed by a Q&A session lasting no more than an hour in total. Our speakers have included Heads of State, Prime Ministers, Central Bank Governors, senior ministers, diplomats, officials and notable journalists. We meet four times a year, in London, Brussels, two European cities and further afield according to votes cast by our membership. Since 1975, we have held multiple meetings in cities as diverse as Berlin, Madrid, Paris, The Hague, Budapest, Moscow, Istanbul, Valletta, Bucharest, Rome, Prague and Lisbon. Over the course of time we have developed close and deep relationships with many of our speakers and the institutions they represent. Sessions are held over a day and a half, and provide concentrated briefings on both broad and specific policy issues direct from policy makers. We gain unique insights into political, regulatory and policy developments and the politicians and officials directly responsible for them. In return, policy makers have a chance to hear directly and privately from diverse senior corporate, business and industry leaders. Our meetings are also designed to allow time for socialising and networking with speakers, members and guests