The Centre d’Etudes et de Recherches Européennes Robert Schuman (CERE) is an independent public research institution which has been conducting scholarly research in the area of international relations and European integration history since 1990. The seat of the CERE is the birthplace of Robert Schuman, the founding father of the European Coal and Steal Community (ECSC). The Luxembourg Prime Minister himself, with the support of national researchers, initiated the creation of the CERE as an independent research institution. Since 2013 the institute has closely been connected with the Ministry of Higher Education and Research. The CERE tries to form a link between the academic and the public world and the realm of international political practice.
First of all, the CERE tries:
- to promote knowledge of European integration history and politics
- to facilitate the publication of research results in the field of European integration history and European politics
- to implement cooperation with different European political research institutes on an international level
- to organize colloquia, workshops and training sessions for researchers, students and journalists with experts from politics, justice, economy, administration and the academia
- to advise the government on any question related to international relations and European integration.
The main activities of the CERE Robert Schuman are the following ones: The CERE organizes lectures, seminars and conferences related to international affairs. It cooperates with government institutions to provide up-to-date independent analysis on global political matters. It organizes scholarly events such as national and international conferences, seminars, roundtable discussions and presentations. It cooperates with many governmental and non-governmental organizations from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and abroad.
The CERE library has been integrated into the National public library system BibNet. The services of the CERE library, a specialized library, provide public library and information services.
The CERE develops educational activities and training activities for students, teachers and journalists. A special training programme is devoted to journalists from Turkey and the Balkan region. In cooperation with other European and national institutions the CERE is active in the dissemination of knowledge on European integration.
The history department of the CERE focuses its research efforts on the historical development of the European steel policy. Furthermore, it biennially publishes the Journal of European Integration History, together with the Groupe de Liaison des Historiens auprès de la Commission Européenne.
The European policy department concentrates its research on Luxembourg’s role in the European integration process. It cooperates with various research institutions in the field of International Relations, European Studies and Security Studies. Its mission is to contribute to the European and international relations research. Thus, it is involved in various projects with networks like Notre Europe Jacques Delors, Building Bridges of the IFRI or TEPSA. The CERE has also contributed regularly to various TEPSA projects such as EuroWatch.
The CERE is organizing the next TEPSA presidency conference, which is to be held in Luxembourg on 4th and 5th June 2015.
The main topics on the agenda of the pre-presidency conference will be:
- The Energy Union – European Development Year
- Grexit – Brixit? Can Greece and the United Kingdom leave the European institutions?
- TTIP (EU – USA) – CETA (EU – Canada) negotiations
- The institutional debate, one year after the EP election
- The Juncker Plan: a possible re-launch of the European economy?
- European Neighbourhood policy in trouble? EU – Russia relations and the Ukraine conflict
- Immigration – Integration, a new opportunity for the EU?