Since 1964, the IEE-ULB has been a pioneering institution in the analysis of European law, institutions, policies and societies, both in terms of their internal dynamics and their interactions with the rest of the world. 

Interdisciplinarity is part of our DNA, and research at the IEE-ULB is structured around four cross-cutting themes. 

1. Europe as an area of freedom, security and justice 

Since the Amsterdam Treaty came into force, maintaining and developing an area of freedom, security and justice has been one of the European Union's objectives. The first cross-cutting research theme of the IEE-ULB focuses on this objective. IEE affiliates working on this theme are involved in topics such as: 

  • the state and borders in the EU
  • security and fundamental rights
  • judicial and police cooperation
  • asylum and migration 

2. Europe as an area of economic and social regulation 

The IEE-ULB’s second theme of research addresses European governance through the impact of its policy- making on European integration in such key areas as economic governance, territories and regional policy, common market and social issues.This research theme includes topics such as: 

  • social policies
  • developments in the internal market
  • trade policy
  • competition policy
  • corporate governance 

3. Europe as a community of norms and values 

The IEE-ULB’s third crosscutting theme of research focuses on processes of cooperation, identification and conflict management associated with European integration and their role in the legitimation of the EU as a political entity. IEE affiliates working on this theme are interested in topics such as:

  • Europe as a laboratory for the management of social, cultural, religious and sexual diversity
  • Fundamental rights and values: singularities or specificities of the European model
  • What European social model in the face of the challenges of capitalism
  • Institutionalisation of norms, public policy instruments and mobilisation in the name of values in a multi-level Europe 

4. Europe in the world

Europe in the World’ is the fourth crosscutting theme of research in the IEE-ULB in terms of global governance, notably the interactions between global policy and European policies. This research theme covers topics such as:

  • multilateralism and diplomacy
  • interregionalism
  • security and defence
  • development
  • the Euro-Mediterranean area
  • EU trade policy 

Our researchers discuss their passion for science in this series of interviews, which showcase the diversity of our research areas.