Futures studies in the European Union's new member states

Purpose – In May 2004, ten new member states joined the European Union (EU). Although these countries have experienced very different historical and political systems, they face a shared future. This paper seeks to answer the question: how do they analyze this future? Design/methodology/approach – The paper considers approaches in the new member states including forecasting, strategic planning, foresight and futures studies – and highlights the link with public policies. The second part of this paper offers a detailed presentation of the main players involved in futures studies in each of these ten countries. Findings – All of the new member states have begun to develop competencies in analyzing the future. This is particularly remarkable in the former Communist members states. Connections between the institutions of foresight are still limited, however, and fostering relations between foresight and other agencies across the EU is a significant challenge for the future. Originality/value – Provides an insight into the state of futures research in the new member states of the EU.