The European Social Survey (ESS) is an academically driven cross-national survey that has been conducted across Europe since its establishment in 2001. Every two years, face-to-face interviews are conducted with newly selected, cross-sectional samples. The survey measures the attitudes, beliefs and behaviour patterns of diverse populations in more than thirty nations.

The ESS was awarded ERIC status by the European Commission in 2013 and comprises now 24 member countries and one observer country. The study is coordinated by a the Core Scientific Team led by Director of the ESS ERIC is Rory Fitzgerald and the ESS ERIC headquarters are at City, University of London.

GESIS as member of the Core Scientific Team fulfils major tasks of quality assurance in questionnaire translation and in fieldwork planning and monitoring. The ESS team at GESIS organizes the meetings of the National Coordinators’ Forum. Dr Angelika Scheuer serves as Deputy Director External and supports the Scientific Advisory Board of the ESS ERIC.