EEAS and European University Institute sign Partnership Agreement

05.07.2021

Handling complex foreign policy challenges increasingly requires advanced tools of analysis, drawing on the best available expertise. Contributions from, and cooperation with, renowned research centres, academia and think tanks enhance and enrich the European External Action Service’s (EEAS) own analytical work, to improve policy-making and preparedness.

 

In line with this objective, the EEAS launched a partnership agreement with the European University Institute (EUI) as “framework of collaboration, aiming at facilitating their mutual work and strengthening their cooperation in the fields of higher education, research and analysis, at the benefit of respective staff and stakeholders“. The agreement was signed today in Brussels by the EEAS Secretary-General, Stefano Sannino, and the President of the European University Institute, Renaud Dehousse.

The agreement identifies several areas of collaboration, such as policy dialogues, institutional and capacity-building support, the organisation of training activities and seminars, and research on the European Union's common foreign and security policy and external relations as well as the broader geopolitics and geo-economics.

A Steering Committee will implement the agreement and to develop the cooperation by identifying specific areas of cooperation and projects and by defining activity plans.

Upon the signing, EEAS Secretary-Sannino said: “This Agreement offers a promising framework of cooperation. Working with the EUI and its School of Transnational Governance will give to the EEAS the opportunity to profit from the European University Institute’s profound knowledge on European integration, European foreign policy, and international affairs”.

EUI President Renaud Dehousse underlined: “As the EU’s diplomatic service, the European External Action Service plays a vital role in the Union’s external relations. At the European University Institute, we are glad to support the EEAS mission through analysis, expertise and training on issues pertaining to international relations and politics.”

Founded in 1972 by the six original members of the then European Communities, the European University Institute (EUI) is a leading academic institute in Europe dedicated to social sciences and humanities, fostering research and analysis related to the European integration process and shifts in politics in Europe and globally. The EUI runs doctoral, postdoctoral, master and executive education programmes, and among many others has partnerships with the European Commission and the European Parliament.