Politico: US conservative think tank pushes Trump-style policies in Europe

The Heritage Foundation, the conservative U.S. think tank behind Donald Trump’s Project 2025 policy roadmap, is increasingly exporting its influence across Europe, partnering with far-right nationalist movements to promote policies aligned with the president’s agenda, Politico writes.

In late October, the group hosted a conference in Rome, at the former residence of Silvio Berlusconi, focusing on Europe’s demographic crisis and declining birth rates, which speakers framed as a threat to Western civilisation.

Among the participants were Heritage’s vice president of domestic policy, Roger Severino, known for his work to roll back abortion access in the U.S., and Italian family minister Eugenia Roccella.

The event also included members of Italy’s right-wing think tanks, highlighting shared concerns over reproductive policies and societal values.

Beyond Italy, Heritage representatives have held private meetings in Washington and Brussels with lawmakers from Hungary, Czechia, Spain, France, Germany, and members of the European Parliament (MEPs), signalling a growing European outreach.

The group has increased its engagement dramatically over the past year, holding seven formal meetings with MEPs compared to just one in the previous five years. Many of these discussions centred on issues such as abortion, gender theory, defence, and China, with Heritage officials promoting policies from Project 2025 they consider “transferable” to European contexts.

Heritage’s push comes as far-right parties gain momentum across Europe, leveraging public frustration over immigration, climate regulations, and perceived threats to national sovereignty.

In Italy, some MPs have proposed legislation granting fetal personhood, potentially restricting abortion, while the Meloni government has blocked participation of Chinese telecom giant Huawei in domestic infrastructure projects. Similar policy interests align with Heritage’s stance on reproductive rights, defence, and limiting foreign influence.

Observers note that while Europe’s right has historically been fragmented, Trump’s political machinery and Heritage’s involvement have begun uniting nationalist factions under shared objectives. Critics, however, caution that Heritage lacks deep expertise in European law and governance, limiting its practical impact.

Transparency advocates have also raised concerns about undeclared meetings with MEPs, warning that the group’s activities could enable the import of authoritarian ideas into Europe.

Despite these warnings, supporters argue that Heritage’s influence provides European conservatives with access to U.S. policymaking experience and reinforces ideological ties to the MAGA movement. As Heritage extends its footprint, it is increasingly seen not only as a think tank but as a conduit for Trump-era policies on a transatlantic scale.

By Aghakazim Guliyev