Dr Julie Smith is Head of the European Programme at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, an Assistant Director of Studies at the Centre of International Studies, Cambridge and Fellow in Politics, Robinson College, Cambridge. She has published widely on various aspects of European integration, including EU enlargement, democracy in Europe and elections to the European Parliament and on transnational party politics.

Charles Jenkins leads a team of 12 at the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) responsible for Country Reports and Country Forecasts which cover the politics, economies and business environments of all countries of the the European Union as well as the EU itself. He has a long experience as editor and author of EIU regular and special reports covering all EU countries and many European countries outside the EU as well as working for the Federal Trust, Centre for Reform, European League for Economic Co-operation and other research bodies.