The network of European Union Centers of Excellence promotes the study of the EU, its institutions and policies and EU-US relations through teaching programs, scholarly research and outreach activities in their local and regional communities. The European Commission funds this initiative as part of a broader effort to promote people-to-people ties across the Atlantic.
In 1998, the European Union organized a competition to support European Union Centers in American universities, devoted to promoting the objectives of the New Transatlantic Agenda, and in particular building civil society "bridges" across the Atlantic.
The EU Centers program has helped create a foothold for EU studies in US higher education and served as an information resource for a broad US audience, with extensive outreach to regional audiences and the policy community. As in 2005-2008, the recipients of awards in this cycle have been designated "Centers of Excellence" in recognition of the high quality, variety and depth of their programming.
2008 marked the fourth cycle of competition of the EU Centers program, with ten Centers chosen from a very strong group of competitors.
As EU Ambassador John Bruton noted in announcing the 2008-2011 award winners: "The EU Centers of Excellence have the crucial task of preparing the students who will take a leading role in the future of the transatlantic relationship, and play a vital role in educating their local communities regarding those developments. These Centers will also continue to produce high quality scholarly research that informs the policy community.
The EUCE website (www.euce.org) serves as a portal to the individual Center pages as well as an archive of outcomes and best practices contributed by the network members.
The EU Centers of Excellence grant program is administered by the Washington Delegation of the European Commission. The Delegation represents the European Commission in its dealings with the US Government for all matters within EU competence or purview. It reports on US developments to headquarters in Brussels and acts as a liaison with other international institutions in Washington, DC. The Delegation's Public Diplomacy program, which includes the EU Centers of Excellence, is a key priority.