Why PERCEIVE is important to cast light on Brexit? Gianpiero Torrisi, Senior Lecturer at Portsmouth Business School, explains how the project will lead to a more evidence-based policy approach. Policy makers will greatly benefit thanks to a deeper understanding of the interaction between the EU structure and its narrative.

What’s your favorite part of the project?

The interdisciplinary approach is definitely my favourite part of the project. Indeed, the project timely addresses key issues for the future of EU, especially under times that see the EU discourse under extreme pressures. Every single aspect of it is multifaceted and involves complex scientific reasoning. The final model to perform “what if” analysis is one of the more exciting expected contributions of the project.

Do you have any specific expectation on the project?

Especially through the Brexit lenses, showing how the EU contributes to key themes such as Cohesion Policy along with the effects of the EU narrative on citizens’ perception is a crucial expectation I have on project as a scholar. Personally, I think that this project will make an important contribute toward a more evidence-based policy approach.  Why, for example,  Wales votes 'leave' despite millions in EU support that have been used to improve railway lines, open museums and regenerate dreary town centers shattered by the decline of heavy industry? This is for sure something involving the perception of policies that is worth exploring. PERCEIVE can provide insights on this.

Who do you think this project is useful for?

The project is potentially useful for a variety of stakeholder. The scientific community will have more pieces of evidence on both qualitative and quantitative grounds. Policy makers at both the national and EU levels will have the opportunity to use the above evidence to make more informed decisions regarding both the deep structure and the narrative of the EU policy.