The ULB and the Institute for European Studies: a lasting commitment to Europe!

This Wednesday, 10 December, in the presence of the Rector of the ULB, the signing ceremony of the 2025–2035 ten-year agreement was held.

This document formalizes the terms of cooperation and the synergies between the ULB, the IEE, and its partner faculties (Law and Criminology, Philosophy and Social Sciences, and the Solvay Brussels School) for the next ten years. It strengthens the autonomy and the intellectual tradition of interdisciplinarity and openness of the IEE.

At the same time, the IEE is pleased to announce that the European Commission has renewed its status as a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence for the period 2025–2028. This recognition highlights the scientific and educational quality of the Institute and its international reach. The BoundEUries project will discuss how communities and borders take shape and interact in today’s Europe.

These two events underscore the ULB’s constantly renewed commitment to the European project in all its dimensions.

This rigorous and critical commitment appears all the more crucial in the face of increasing competition in training and expertise in European studies, and at a time when the values of democracy, free inquiry, and knowledge are being put to the test in the academic, political, and media spheres.

The IEE warmly thanks the ULB Rector Annemie Schaus, Vice-Rector Michel Verstraeten and Vice-Rector Anne Weyembergh, the Deans of its sister faculties Catherine Dehon, Pierre Klein and Jean-Benoît Pilet, the Agreement working group (Emmanuelle Bribosia, Ramona Coman, Marianne Dony, Nicolas Verschueren), the entire ULB community and its external partners for their unfailing support.

We look forward to welcoming you to our activities in the decade ahead!

François Foret and Chloé Brière