A Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence at the Institute for European Studies (IEE-ULB)

Boundary- and Community-Making in the European Union-BoundEUries is the new Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence project granted to the Institute for European studies-Université libre de Bruxelles (IEE-ULB) for the period 2025-2028. This label is both a sign of international recognition and an instrument that enables us to fulfil our threefold mission of research, teaching, and stimulating public debate.

BoundEUries explores the link between community and boundary-making processes in the European governance of transnational issues and flux of people, goods and ideas. In the face of political issues (e.g., climate change, fundamental rights, migrations or technological innovation) that defies its regulatory perimeter and challenge its founding values and democratic principles, the question of what constitutes the EU as a community has returned in full force. Ultimately, the defining question for the EU is to reconcile its claims for agency and its quest for legitimacy regarding borderless claims and commons.

BoundEUries discusses the community/boundary nexus by coupling the study of political narratives and policy instruments. It provides an interdisciplinary framework that brings together academics, students, policymakers, journalists, and artists to develop innovative ways to think and tell European politics.

We look forward to the upcoming activities and opportunities to exchange!

François Foret and Julien Jeandesboz

Objectives

BoundEUries responds to three interconnected needs:

  • Scientific: advancing interdisciplinary research on EU boundary/community-making.
  • Educational: innovating teaching methods and integrating research into curricula.
  • Societal: engaging with policymakers, civil society, media, and the public to co-create knowledge and foster democratic dialogue.

Method and objects: analysing European integration in four dimensions:

  • The demarcation of (geo)political, territorial, social, economic and cultural boundaries and the definition of insiders versus outsiders
  • The reconfiguration of statehood(s) through EU institutional/legal measures and policies inside, outside and across the EU’s borders
  • The regulation of cross-border flows of ideas, goods, money, people and services
  • The discussion of values, identities and public spheres that shape the EU as a community and the loyalty of its citizens

Activities

  • Guest Lectures & Seminars
  • Student-Led Training: Hands-on projects like ResEURch (rule of law), JournalEUR (media literacy), and TheatEUR (artistic co-creation).
  • Curriculum Innovation: Integration of boundary/community themes into BA, MA, and doctoral programmes.
  • Public Engagement: Collaborations with journalists, artists, and media partners to reach diverse audiences through podcasts, blogs, theatre, and social media.

Impact & Legacy

BoundEUries aims to:

  • Strengthen the IEE’s role as a hub for interdisciplinary EU studies.
  • Empower students with academic, professional, and soft skills.
  • Inform EU policymaking through research-based insights.
  • Foster a more inclusive and informed European public sphere.
The project’s legacy will be sustained through publications (including an edited volume and bilingual textbooks), curriculum development, and ongoing collaborations with European and international partners.