 Open Europe was described by "The Economist" in 2010 as "the Eurosceptic group that controls British coverage of the EU".It was awarded "International Think Tank of the Year 2012" by "Prospect" magazine.Open Europe was launched on 20 October 2005 by Rodney Leach in London by business people to oppose the return of the then EU Constitutional Treaty that became the Lisbon Treaty, Open Europe's stated aim was "to contribute positive new thinking to the debate about the future direction of the European Union".