The Bertelsmann Foundation Fellowship

The Bertelsmann Foundation Fellowship (BFF), formerly known as the Congressional European Parliamentary Initiative (CEPI), is a hybrid experience that convenes over the period of six months. Fellows start with an in-person trip in Brussels to kick off the fellowship, followed by an engaging, four-month virtual program in which they meet once a week with experts related to the year’s topic. The Fellowship comes to a close with a trip to Washington, D.C., where fellows are able to further engage in person. A final publication providing concrete policy recommendations related to the topic is written by the fellows themselves, published at the end of the BFF program.

Editions

CEPI 2021 centers on topics from green technology and innovation to sustainable agriculture and how digitization will affect the environment.

In 2020, CEPI convened a diverse transatlantic group for an exchange of ideas around the theme of artificial intelligence.

CEPI 2019 focused on policy and regulatory challenges for the digital economy.

CEPI 2018 centered on topics crucial to the digital economy, including GDPR and transatlantic data flows, technological innovation, and artificial intelligence.

CEPI 2017 focused on transatlantic cybersecurity policy and strategy.

CEPI 2016 brought together participants to discuss migration.

CEPI 2015's program tackled challenges of international trade.

CEPI 2014 participants met for a dual program on cybersecurity and trade.

CEPI 2013 focused on cybersecurity and trade.

CEPI 2012 addressed finance and agriculture in the U.S. and Europe.