remains open to developments in the digital economy and benefits fully from it through enhanced global competitiveness and social progress. Its most recent contribution to long-term thinking was contained in its document "The Digital World in 2030: what place for Europe?" in which it called for completing the Digital Single Market (March 2014). He remains a member of the EIF Steering Committee. European Ideas Network (EIN) In August 2002, Elles founded the European Ideas Network (EIN), an open network think-tank on a European scale for the centre-right. He stepped down as Chairman of the Network in March 2008. European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS) Elles laid the foundation for creating the European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS) by tabling two budget amendments in 2010 and 2012. Their purpose was to establish an inter-institutional system looking closely at long-term trends with a view to providing foresight, feeding in principal ideas into strategic policy-making. It is governed by a Steering Group where all EU institutions are represented at Secretary-General or substitute level meetings on a regular basis where Elles is Honorary President. References External links Profile at European Parliament website 1949 births Living people People educated at Eton College Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Conservative Party (UK) MEPs People from Buckinghamshire People from Oxfordshire MEPs for England 1984–1989 MEPs for England 1989–1994 MEPs for England 1994–1999 MEPs for England 1999–2004 MEPs for England 2004–2009 MEPs for England 2009–2014 Sons of life peers