We continue our review of European actors by presenting the European University Institute and “State of the Union,” a key event in European politics.<\/p>\n
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We offer today a new article on actors promoting Europe from our territories: valuable allies to deepen our knowledge and perspectives in dealing with European projects<\/span>. The article is dedicated to the<\/b>\n European University Institute (EUI)<\/b>\n<\/a> of Florence<\/b>. <\/span> <\/p>\n EUI’s action is focused on academic, research and training aspects, but it has many distinctive features that make it an organization of great interest on the Italian, European and international scene. Let us try to list some of them, leaving you to discover the details within the interview.<\/span><\/p>\n The EUI is not just an institute, but a true international organization, born out of a treaty among European countries. It houses a European documentation center and the Official Historical Archives of the European Union. He conducts research and training in very interesting areas, from media to migration to environmental and energy regulations; to name but three. In fact, the Institute analyzes and produces <\/span>quality research and strategies in all areas of interest to European policies<\/b>, or which represent important open challenges for them.<\/span><\/p>\n The EUI organizes high-level, high-interest events, including in particular <\/span>one of the world’s leading events on European policies, <\/b>\n “State of the Union”<\/b>\n<\/a>, which will be held this year from May 5-7.<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n The EUI is the starting point and convergence of a number of equally well-known and interesting research centers and organizations active in different areas of European policies and on European projects.<\/span><\/p>\n We talked about this, and much more, with Dr. <\/span>Marco Incerti<\/b>, director of the Institute’s Communication Service. <\/span> <\/p>\n The European Union can be felt just about everywhere at the EUI, European University Institute. By its very nature: the EUI, in addition to being an institute, is a’<\/span>international organization<\/b> \n established by a specific agreement<\/span>\n<\/a> among the 23 member states of the European Union.<\/span><\/p>\n Article 2 of this agreement very clearly defines the close link between the EUI and Europe: the Institute contributes “to the development of the cultural and scientific heritage of Europe, as a whole and in its constituent parts,” and deals with “the great movements and institutions that characterize the history and development of Europe.”<\/span><\/p>\n The Institute does not have a mission strictly related to europrojecting, but, as it were, it practices it assiduously: it works on dozens of European projects, some of which it leads. It is a point of reference and a frequent partner for other actors and institutions working in the same field as it, namely the <\/span>humanities and social sciences<\/b>, approached from an international and European perspective. Its departments of <\/span>\n Economy<\/span>\n<\/a>, <\/span>\n History and Civilization<\/span>\n<\/a>, <\/span>\n Jurisprudence<\/span>\n<\/a>, <\/span>\n Political Science and Social Science<\/span>\n<\/a> are “hubs” of technical expertise and carry out their mission by, among other things, actively participating in quality European projects.<\/span><\/p>\n Some departments, such as the <\/span>\n Schuman Center for Advanced Studies<\/span>\n<\/a>, were born and operate thanks to European projects and funding. The Schuman Center’s mission is very indicative of the EUI’s European role and character: to produce research, scholarly and teaching activity on the grand challenges facing Europe and the world.<\/span><\/p>\n The evolution of the Institute’s activities has led it to become a point of reference on some specific and very important issues for the European Union. The EUI hosts a <\/span>European Documentation Center<\/b><\/a>, or a large library on Europe available to the citizenry. The EUI also hosts the <\/span>\n Historical Archives of the European Union<\/b>\n<\/a>, which contain all the documents that “made history” of the European Union, from the historic <\/span>\n Ventotene Manifesto<\/span>\n<\/a> onward. The Archives is a unique place for the identity, values and history of the European Union: it is “The Historical Archives” (not simply “one of the historical archives”) of the European Union. There is one in Europe and it is housed at the EUI.<\/span><\/p>\n Finally, EUI is the lead partner in a topical project: <\/span>\n EDMO, the<\/span>\n European Digital Media Observatory<\/b>\n<\/a>, stems from the Institute’s experience and planning, combined with that of other European partners. EDMO is <\/span>\n on the front lines<\/span>\n<\/a> in the European Union’s fight against disinformation, which we know is a real battlefront in these difficult times.<\/span><\/p>\n Our local organisations, constitutionally and because of our mission, are the<\/span>Europe<\/b> and the <\/span>whole world<\/b>. EUI is an international organization engaged in research and academic education on global challenges, with a particular (but not exclusive) focus on Europe. The Institute is a benchmark for academics throughout Europe and a globally recognized excellence.<\/span><\/p>\n Of course, some of our activities are more specifically oriented to the city and region we are in, namely Florence and Tuscany. The EUI is, among other things, one of the European Documentation Centers, of which there are <\/span>many “knots”<\/span><\/a> at the local level in Italy and Europe. The mission carried out here is also European, international, and in line with the Institute’s broader mission: as the European Documentation Center, the EUI supports education and research on European integration, provides a selection of papers on European affairs, and encourages the academic community to engage in debate on the <\/span>future of the EU<\/span><\/a>. After all, EUI has historical and now highly structured relationships with many local organisations partners, such as the <\/span>Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze<\/span><\/a>, a partner in the Guide to EU Projects and Funding.<\/span><\/p>\n Also at the local level, and always with a broader European and international outlook, EUI organizes the <\/span>\n “EU Talks”<\/b>\n<\/a> in collaboration with the <\/span>\n Europe Direct Center of Florence<\/span>\n<\/a>. “EU Talks” is a project in which students and researchers engage in thematic roundtable discussions on issues central to the future of Europe the development of the European Union.<\/span><\/p>\n This quick territorial survey also allows us to define our target audience. Our main target audience is the <\/span>European and international academic community<\/b>: professors, doctoral students, lecturers, students and research professionals, and in the various disciplines affecting the development of Europe. It is an audience inherent in EUI’s very definition as a “European University Institute.”<\/span><\/p>\n However, as explained, our activity has a more general impact on all <\/span>citizens<\/b> and on <\/span>institutions<\/b> of the EU, as it precisely aims to promote Europe’s cultural and scientific heritage and address Europe’s grand challenges in terms of research and education. Thus, the activities are not limited to the academic circle but can also appeal to a wider audience. <\/span><\/p>\n The breadth of the EUI audience is greatest in <\/span>\n “State of the Union”<\/b>\n<\/a>, a major global event organized annually by the Institute and now in its <\/span>\n twelfth edition<\/span>\n<\/a>. We will talk more about this, because it is definitely an interesting in-depth opportunity for the Guide to EU Projects and Funding audience.<\/span><\/p>\n In the case of the EUI, it is difficult to speak of “support” in the proper sense of the term, and certainly the Institute does not carry out support work on europlanning issues. However, just as surely, the Institute has a mission with many areas of focus that are of great interest to anyone concerned with Europe and international affairs.<\/span><\/p>\n The core mission of the EUI consists of activities in <\/span>academic research on many areas related to European policies<\/b>, in the<\/span>teaching<\/b> of these subjects and in the <\/span>dissemination<\/b> Of their own research activities. Participation in European projects is part of the Institute’s activities to the extent that this is useful and necessary to fund and expand the prospects of its research projects. Many of EUI’s research programs are. <\/span>funded by European projects.<\/b>, and the EUI itself benefits from financial support from the European Commission, particularly the Erasmus+ program.<\/span><\/p>\n EUI organizes, as a central part of its mission, <\/span>PhD programs<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Master’s programs<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Management training courses<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Scholarships<\/span><\/a> e <\/span>Summer School<\/span><\/a>: all of which are recognized at the European and international level and may be of interest to those among the Guide to EU Projects and Funding’s readers who would like to delve into one of the many topics covered by the Institute, in an academically sound and structured way.<\/span><\/p>\n Other forms of support, which are very important for anyone concerned with Europe, manifest themselves in the Institute’s role as “host” of the <\/span>\n European Documentation Center<\/span>\n<\/a> and of the<\/span>\n Historical Archives of the European Union<\/span>\n<\/a>. Equally important for anyone concerned with Europe are the EUI’s public-facing initiatives, such as the <\/span>\n “EU Talks”<\/span>\n<\/a> (which we have discussed) or the major initiative <\/span>\n “State of the Union”<\/span>\n<\/a>. <\/span> <\/p>\n However, in very immediate and concrete terms, it is precisely the EUI’s research activities that are the flagship and the most interesting element of its work, for the benefit of all experts and enthusiasts of Europe. <\/span>The research and publications<\/span><\/a> of the Institute cover “cutting edge” issues and approaches in the field of European policies and politics: as such, they are therefore a very important point of reference for those who want to <\/span>get informed, deepen and support their planning activities with a solid theoretical basis<\/b>. After all, European projects are an application of European policies in various policy areas.<\/span><\/p>\n An important part of the Institute’s research and training activities is carried out through a number of <\/span>major thematic projects<\/b> which have gradually, so to speak, taken on a life of their own and acquired in themselves great significance at the European and international levels. For example, they report to the EUI:<\/span><\/p>\n These and other EUI centers provide a sectoral reference point in particularly important areas of European policy. Their activities can be of great interest to those tackling the same issues through European projects.<\/span><\/p>\n The European University Institute has accumulated a great deal of experience in the presentation and management of European projects over the years, becoming a de facto “hub” and a point of reference for organizations that carry out europlanning activities with it, either as leaders or partners on joint projects. The list of projects that EUI boasts is enviable and worthwhile <\/span>\n consult it<\/span>\n<\/a>, to get a more concrete idea of the way and areas in which the Institute operates.<\/span><\/p>\n The centers we mentioned earlier are also mostly co-funded through European projects. The Institute’s various centers and departments are. <\/span>directed by project managers<\/b>, capable of setting up the activity not only in technical and academic terms, but also in terms of partnership and participation in projects, with a priority focus on research projects (funded in particular by the ERC, European Research Council). <\/span> <\/p>\n Let us try to answer the question with insights from our practical experience.<\/span><\/p>\n Again, the experiences we can recount are not related to actual support provided by EUI, but to the successful implementation of activities within the scope of our mission and which may be of interest to readers of the Guide to EU Projects and Funding. We can <\/span>cite two<\/span>What is the European Union for you? In what ways do you feel an active part of it?<\/b><\/h3>\n
What is your target audience? What are your local organisations?<\/b><\/h3>\n
In what ways do you provide support? What tools and answers are you able to provide?<\/b><\/h3>\n
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What do you recommend to an organization or person wishing to participate in a European project?<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Can you tell us about a particularly significant experience of your support?<\/b><\/h3>\n