European University Institute#European Union Democracy Observatory

The European University Institute (EUI) was founded in 1972 by the member states of the European Community.{{cite web |url=https://www.esteri.it/mae/en/servizi/stranieri/opportunita/progetti-speciali/istitut_europeo_firenze.html |title=European University Institute |publisher=Farnesina |access-date=11 February 2018}}

The EUI finds its origins in the advocacy for a European institute at the 1948 Hague Conference and the European Conference on Culture the following year in Lausanne. At the 1955 Messina Conference, when the members of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) gathered to assess that organisation's progress, the German secretary of state, Walter Hallstein, called for the establishment of a training centre for nuclear sciences.{{cite web |url=https://www.eui.eu/About/HistoryofEUI|title=A Brief History of the EUI |access-date=2024-11-24 |publisher=European University Institute}}

The idea remained largely dormant until 1969 when European leaders{{who|date=October 2024}} met in The Hague and resolved to fund a European University Institute (EUI) in Florence.{{cn|date=October 2024}} By this point the idea had evolved from a centre for nuclear sciences to one focused on the human sciences, promoting a cultural exchange between member states.

Plans were put into motion with conferences in Florence and Rome in 1970 and 1971, when it was decided that the institute would be reserved for post-graduate studies and not directly a Community institution.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

The six member states – Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands – signed a convention in 1972 establishing the EUI as a pillar for research and development.{{cite journal |url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1436893428665&uri=CELEX:41976A0209(01) |title=Convention setting up a European University Institute |year=1976 |journal=Official Journal of the European Union |volume=С |number=29}}{{cite web |url=https://verdragenbank.overheid.nl/en/Treaty/Details/002632 |title=Convention setting up a European University Institute |access-date=2019-02-10 |publisher=Government of the Netherlands}} The EUI Convention entered into force in 1975, and the institute opened its doors to its first 70 researchers in 1976. Its mission, laid down in the 1970s, is to "foster the advancement of learning in fields which are of particular interest for the development of Europe".

Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom joined the European Community in 1973, and subsequently acceded to the convention establishing the EUI. In 1992, a new convention revising the 1972 convention establishing the EUI was signed by the then 12 Community member states.{{cite web |url=https://verdragenbank.overheid.nl/en/Treaty/Details/005199.html |title=Convention revising the Convention setting up a European University Institute |access-date=2019-02-10 |publisher=Government of the Netherlands}} It entered into force in 2007 when the last contracting state ratified the convention.

EUI contracting states must be European Union member states.

{{as of|2023|December}}, contracting states include all EU member states except Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Lithuania.{{cite web |url=https://www.eui.eu/About/HistoryofEUI|title=A Brief History of the EUI |access-date=2020-03-03 |publisher=European University Institute}}{{cite web |url=https://www.eui.eu/Documents/AboutEUI/Convention/Consolidated-ConventionpostMalta-20180901.pdf |title=Convention setting up a European University Institute as revised by the 1992 amending Convention |access-date=2019-02-16 |publisher=European University Institute}}

The EUI is made up of four research departments in humanities and social sciences

• Department of History
• Department of Economics
• Department of Political and Social Sciences
• Department of Law

The Florence School of Transnational Governance (STG) was launched in 2017. Located in Palazzo Buontalenti, in the heart of Florence, the STG serves as a hub for exchange and collaboration, bringing together academia, civil society, policymakers, the business sector, NGOs, the media and other stakeholders.

The Institute also includes a centre for advanced studies in public policy research, the Robert Schuman Center for Advanced Studies (RSCAS), named in honor of Robert Schuman .

File:Fonds from HAEU being moved (8056171158).jpg from the HAEU being moved.]]

The Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU) was established following the 1983 decision of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and the 1983 regulation by the Council of the European Communities{{Cite web |title=EUR-Lex - 31983S0359 - EN |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec/1983/359(1)/oj/eng |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=Official Journal L 043 , 15/02/1983 P. 0014 - 0015; Finnish special edition: Chapter 16 Volume 1 P. 0065 ; Spanish special edition: Chapter 01 Volume 4 P. 0006 ; Swedish special edition: Chapter 16 Volume 1 P. 0065 ; Portuguese special edition Chapter 01 Volume 4 P. 0006 |language=EN}} to open their historical archives to the public.

A 1984 agreement between the Commission of the European Communities and the European University Institute located the Archives in Florence,{{Cite web |title=CONTRACT between the European Communities and the European University Institute, Florence |url=http://www.eui.eu/Documents/Research/HistoricalArchivesofEU/Contract.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924003115/http://www.eui.eu/Documents/Research/HistoricalArchivesofEU/Contract.pdf |archive-date=2015-09-24 |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=www.eui.eu}} at the EUI, and in 1986 the HAEU opened its doors to the public. It is the single, official archival repository of the institutions, bodies, and agencies of the European Union, and also holds more than 160 private archives of European personalities, politicians, movements, and associations that played an important role in European integration. It has been in its current seat, in Villa Salviati, since 2012. Users may consult the Archives' online database for descriptions of the documents, audiovisual materials, and artefacts in its deposits. Archival materials may be consulted in the HAEU reading room according to the thirty-years rule, or online where possible. The HAEU supports research on European integration through the administration of several grant programmes.

The EUI offers structured doctoral programmes in the field of economics, history and civilisation, law, and political and social sciences.

The EUI's Centre for Academic Literacies and Languages (CALL) provides language training in oral and written academic communication skills and facilitates social interaction in academic environments.

The State of the Union is an annual forum for high level reflection on the European Union organised by the EUI since 2011.(2011). [http://2011.festivaldeuropa.eu/en/content/may-2011-florence-capital-europe-comparing-europe-palazzo-vecchio May 2011. Florence, capital of Europe Comparing Europe at Palazzo Vecchio] Festival d'Europa. Retrieved 10 March 2021 The conference acts as a bridge between academia and policy making at the highest level in Europe, bringing together heads of state, EU representatives, academics, policy-makers, business and opinion leaders and civil society representatives to discuss and debate the key challenges and opportunities facing Europe and Europeans each year. Presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers, as well as presidents of the European Commission and European Parliament have taken part in the event over the years.(2017). [https://europa.eu/newsroom/events/state-union-2017-conference-european-university-institute-building-peoples-europe_en State of the Union 2017 conference by the European University Institute: Building a people's Europe] European Union Newsroom. Retrieved 15 March 2021{{cite web|date=25 February 2019|title=The 2019 EUI State of the Union will take place in Florence, 2-4 May 2019 (RSCAS, EUI, Italy)|url=http://www.tepsa.eu/the-2019-eui-state-of-the-union-will-take-place-in-florence-2-4-may-2019-rscas-eui-italy/|access-date=24 February 2021|website=Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA)}}

The EUI is one of the leading social science research institutions in Europe, and with around 1,000 researchers{{cn|date=May 2025}}at various levels in their careers, it is also one of the largest graduate schools with around 90 international partners in research, exchange, and educational initiatives.

In 2024, the EUI was ranked 6th in the world in political science and among the first 100 in sociology, public administration, and economics on the Shanghai Ranking.{{Cite web |year=2024 |title=Shanghai Ranking 2024 |url=https://www.shanghairanking.com/institution/european-university-institute }} It was also ranked 31st in the world for Politics and International Studies, 51st in the world for History, and 89th in the world for Law in the QS World University Rankings.

The EUI Political and Social Science department was ranked 1st in Europe and 5th worldwide in the Hix ranking of such departments (which was published in 2004 and covered the period 1998–2002).[http://www.politicalstudies.org/pdf/psr/hix.pdf Simon Hix (2004) 'A Global Ranking of Political Science Departments', Political Studies Review 2(3) 293-313.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041221043317/http://www.politicalstudies.org/pdf/psr/hix.pdf |date=December 21, 2004}} In November 2009, the same department was included in the Die Zeit 'CHE Excellence Ranking' for political science.{{cite web |url=http://www.excellenceranking.org/eusid/EUSID |title=CHE Excellence Ranking 2009 |access-date=2009-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622053638/http://www.excellenceranking.org/eusid/EUSID |archive-date=2011-06-22 |url-status=dead}}

Image:Campanile4.JPG

The European University Institute is seated in Fiesole on the Tuscan hillside overlooking Florence. The headquarters are at the Badia Fiesolana.

The campus is spread across 12 villas in the area, many of which date back to the Renaissance period and have been restored along with their landscaped gardens. The EUI campus also includes Palazzo Buontalenti in the historic centre of Florence at the Casino Mediceo di San Marco, which has been home to the STG since 2021.

The main governance bodies are the High Council (composed of the Member State delegates) and the Academic Council.{{Cite web |date=2 December 2022 |title=Convention setting up a European University Institute |url=https://www.eui.eu/Documents/AboutEUI/Convention/Consolidated-Convention-following-UK-exit.pdf |access-date=25 November 2024 |website=European University Institute}} The President of the Institute is Professor Patrizia Nanz, who is assisted in her duties by the Institute's Secretary General, Marco Del Panta, and the Chief Operating Officer, Roberto Nocentini.

Corporate publications produced by the EUI include:

• EUI Activity Report{{Cite book |year=2024 |title=EUI Activity Report 2023 |url=https://www.eui.eu/Documents/Annual-Activities-Report-2023.pdf |doi=10.2870/185157 |isbn=978-92-9466-548-5 |author1=European University Institute. |publisher=Publications Office }}
• Annual Directory of EUI Academic Publications{{Cite book |year=2024 |title=EUI Academic publications and data |url=https://www.eui.eu/Documents/Research/Library/PublishingAndOpenScience/AcademicPublications/EUI-AcademicPublicationsData2023.pdf |doi=10.2870/342421 |isbn=978-92-9466-544-7 |author1=European University Institute. |publisher=Publications Office }}

The EUI Research Repository contains the academic publications by the members of the EUI, with open-access, full text-versions of publications (working papers, books, contributions to books, e-Books, articles, and theses).{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2013/aug/07/library-futures-european-university-institute

|title=Library futures: European University Institute, Italy|work=The Guardian|date=7 August 2013 |access-date=11 February 2018}}

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• Max Kohnstamm, Netherlands
• Werner Maihofer, Germany
• Émile Noël, France
• Patrick Masterson, Ireland
• Yves Mény, France
• Josep Borrell Fontelles, Spain
• Marise Cremona, United Kingdom
• Joseph Weiler, United States
• Renaud Dehousse, Belgium

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{{main|Category:Academic staff of the European University Institute}}

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• Philip Alston, Law
• Giuliano Amato, Law
• Richard Bellamy, Max Weber Programme
• Jean Blondel, Political science
• Gisela Bock, History
• Kirti N. Chaudhuri, History
• Carlo Cipolla, History
• Colin Crouch, Sociology
• Maurice Cranston, Political philosophy
• Donatella della Porta, Sociology
• Gøsta Esping-Andersen, Sociology
• Sergio Fabbrini, Political science
• Peter Flora, Sociology
• Klaus Hopt, Law
• Søren Johansen, Economics
• Steven Lukes, Political philosophy
• Peter Mair, Political science
• Giandomenico Majone, Political science
• Alan S. Milward, History
• Michael Keating, Political science
• Thomas Risse, International Relations
• Giovanni Sartori, Political science
• Philippe C. Schmitter, Political science
• Andrew Shonfield, Economics
• Susan Strange, Political economy
• Gunther Teubner, Law
• Neil Walker, Law
• Joseph Weiler, Law
• Jay Winter, History
• Christian Reus-Smit, International Relations

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{{main|Category:European University Institute alumni}}

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• Manuel Perez-Garcia, Spanish Associate Professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China) and ERC Grantee 2015
• Catherine Barnard, British legal scholar
• Richard Bellamy, British Political Theorist at UCL
• Srđan Cvijić, Serbian political scientist
• Maurice Glasman, British political scientist
• Simon Hix, British political scientist at the London School of Economics
• Jonathan Hopkin, British political scientist
• John Loughlin, Professor at the University of Cambridge
• Peter Mair, Professor of Political Science at Leiden University and the EUI
• Frank Schimmelfennig, Swiss political scientist
• Nuno Severiano Teixeira, Portuguese scholar, Minister of Defense
• Joachim Wuermeling, German politician
• Martin Westlake, British, Secretary-General of the European Economic and Social Committee
• Mishal Husain, British, BBC World
• Marta Cartabia, Italian, Former President of the Italian Constitutional Court
• Marco Doria, Italian, Mayor of the city of Genoa
• Brigitte Granville, French, Professor at Queen Mary University of London
• Tiago C. Peixoto, Brazilian political scientist at the World Bank.
• Dame Cindy Kiro, Governor-General of New Zealand

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{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://archives.eui.eu/en/fonds/148651?item=EUI Archives] of the European University Institute, at the [https://www.eui.eu/en/academic-units/historical-archives-of-the-european-union Historical Archives of the European Union.]
• [http://www.eui.eu/ European University Institute (EUI)]
• [http://www.eui.eu/RSCAS/ Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies]
• [http://www.eui.eu/MaxWeberProgramme/ Max Weber Programme] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426233934/http://www.eui.eu/MaxWeberProgramme/ |date=26 April 2009 }}
• [http://www.eui.eu/Research/Library EUI Library]
• [http://fsr.eui.eu/ Florence School of Regulation]
• State of the Union
• [https://edmo.eu/ European Digital Media Observatory]
• [https://gulbenkian.pt/emifund/ European Media and Information Fund]
• [https://migrationpolicycentre.eu/ Migration Policy Centre]

{{The European University of Social Sciences}}{{Universities in Italy}}{{Authority control}}

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