Upcoming Events
In the current difficult environment, will the EU be able to protect its citizens while also projecting its values into the world? In what ways has the EU’s international role and standing been subject to change? We invite paper abstracts and panel proposals (deadline 23 October) for the sixth European Union in International Affairs (#EUIA18) conference (16 - 18 May 2018 in Brussels), a multidisciplinary biannual event at which international studies scholars and policy practitioners debate the role of the EU in the turbulent realm of international affairs. In 2018 it will focus on the theme of ‘Protecting and Projecting Europe’.
Prof. Dr. Christian Kaunert, assisted by Mr Silviu Piros, leading a team of researchers from the Institute for European Studies (IES), has been awarded a Jean Monnet Chair in EU Counter-Terrorism (EXACT) for three years, starting from September 2017. Jean Monnet Chairs, as part of the prestigious Life Long Learning programme of the European Union, are very competitive, highly prestigious awards designed to undertake advanced research and teaching activities at a leading research organisation in Europe.
The Institute for European Studies is proud to announce that on 5 September 2017 IES Associate Lisanne Groen was awarded the prestigious UACES (the academic association for contemporary European Studies) Best PhD Thesis Prize for her thesis (2016) on the effectiveness of the European Union (EU) in multilateral climate change and biodiversity negotiations. The prize is awarded to the PhD thesis that made an original and promising contribution to research in the area of contemporary European studies.
On Tuesday 13 June 2017, Daniel Opoku Acquah defended his PhD thesis entitled ‘Intellectual Property, Developing Countries and the Law and Policy of the European Union: Towards Postcolonial Control of Development’. His promoters were Prof. Dr. Harri Kalimo (IES) and Prof. Dr. Tuomas Mylly (UTU). The doctoral committee comprised of Prof. Karel De Gucht (IES), Prof. Stefaan Smis (VUB), Prof. Aurora Plomer (University of Bristol), Prof. Jonathan Griffiths (Queen Mary University of London), and Assist. Prof. Trisha Meyer (Vesalius College, VUB). 
The IES has been prominently represented at the 11th Pan-European Conference on International Relations, organised by the European International Studies Association (EISA) in Barcelona, 13-16 September 2017. IES Academic Director Prof. Christian Kaunert presented three papers. Besides, Prof. Florian Trauner, Dr. Chantal Lavallée, Dr. Jan Claudius Völkel, Dr. Atsuko Higashino and Laura Iozzelli spoke about their current research projects that they conduct at the IES.
From Monday 3 July to Friday 14 July, the Institute for European Studies joined forces with the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna and the University of Vienna to organise the Inter-University Summer School on EU Policy Making. This intensive two-week programme packed with interactive seminars and study visits focusses on the functioning of the EU institutions and decision-making procedures as well as on EU foreign relations. This year, Brexit was in the spotlight, and the summer school participants gained insights into the consequences of the UK’s departure from the EU. 
Dr Jan Claudius Völkel has delivered a keynote speech on Friday, 8 September 2017, at the opening ceremony of the new academic year at the Faculté des Sciences Juridiques, Économiques et Sociales, Université Hassan I de Settat, Morocco. Upon invitation of Prof. Abdeljabbar Arrach, his presentation “The Arab parliaments, the challenges of transformation, and the fight against extremism” discussed the ongoing developments across the Arab world and stressed the importance of political institutions for peaceful transitions.
For the third time in its history, the Institute for European Studies has been awarded the title of 'Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence'. Through a project, led by Prof. Dr. Christian Kaunert and Mr Silviu Piros, the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence title is ensured for a further three years. Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence are a part of the prestigious Life Long Learning programme of the European Union.
Jan Claudius Völkel
In July 2017, Prof. Florian Trauner was invited to teach at the International Summer School of Renmin University of China. His course entitled ‘The EU in crisis – understanding current issues in European Politics’ was attended by 28 Chinese and international students.
1 September 2017 marked the official launch of a new 3-year project that the IES is involved in as a beneficiary and Workpackage Leader: “MINDb4ACT - Mapping, IdentifyiNg and Developing skills and opportunities in operating environments to co-create innovative, ethical and effective ACTions to tackle radicalization leading to violent extremism”.IES in the media...
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Christian Kaunert
Rød alarm
15 Sep 2017
In: Weekendavisen
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Alison Woodward
Alison Woodward in De Afspraak op Vrijdag
8 Sep 2017
In: VRT NWS
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Alexander Mattelaer
Poker op grote hoogte: in plaats van straaljagers, biedt Frankrijk ons land een 'verregaand partnership' aan
7 Sep 2017
In: DeMorgen
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Gauri Khandekar and Tomas Wyns
Engineering disruptive innovation
24 Aug 2017
In: Euractiv
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2014 represents a strategic crossroads for NATO. To encourage debate in the policy and academic communities, the Institute for European Studies at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, the Royal United Services Institute and NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division organised a workshop on 30 June in Brussels. In discussing present challenges and paving a way forward for NATO, the workshop saw high-level participants come together for a stimulating and in-depth strategic debate. The event showcased a special feature that was published with the RUSI Journal in advance of the Alliance's Summit in Wales, 4-5 September 2014, with contributions from IES Researchers Alexander Mattelaer and Luis Simón.
IES is a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence at the 