Research agenda
The capabilities European policymaking needs next
CMI's founding agenda focuses on decisions under deep uncertainty, evaluation that changes decisions, and durable institutional memory.
Methods and limits
- Method
- Agenda-setting document defining the initial questions and publication standard
- Limitations
- This agenda sets research questions; it does not report completed studies, findings or policy effects
- Suggested citation
- Civic Method Institute (2026). The capabilities European policymaking needs next. Version 1.0.
This research agenda defines three capabilities for stronger learning policymaking in Europe.
Designing policy under deep uncertainty
How can institutions make robust decisions when evidence is incomplete, causal relationships are contested, and conditions change faster than conventional policy cycles?
The programme examines practical ways to expose assumptions, compare options and define adaptation points before a decision becomes costly to reverse.
Evaluation that changes decisions
How can evaluation move from retrospective reporting to timely policy adaptation?
The programme studies how evaluation questions, decision thresholds and feedback mechanisms can be built into implementation from the beginning—without weakening methodological judgement.
Institutional memory
How can public organisations preserve policy learning across electoral, administrative and organisational transitions?
The programme explores durable policy records that connect objectives, evidence, assumptions, decisions, observed outcomes and later adaptations.
Publication standard
Outputs distinguish observed findings, interpretations, assumptions and normative choices. Authors, dates, methods, funding and relevant conflicts of interest accompany each publication.