Signature of the Agreement between the University and the European Commission for funding the Europe Direct at University of Luxembourg

Signing of the Agreement between the University of Luxembourg and the European Commission for the funding of the “Europe Direct at the University of Luxembourg” project (2021-2025).

On Friday 10 March 2023, in Belval, the Rector of the University of Luxembourg, Prof. Dr Jens Kreisel, and the Representative of the European Commission in Luxembourg, Anne Calteux, signed the Agreement on the funding for 2023 of the “Europe Direct at the University of Luxembourg” project (ED-UNILU), the result of a competitive public history call co-funded by the European Commission for the period 2021-2025.

ED-UNILU is geared towards a broad audience, with the aim of informing students, researchers, teachers and the general public about issues related to the European Union’s history and current affairs, as well as reflecting on potential future challenges. In 2023, in cooperation with various partners – especially the European Commission Representation and the Liaison Office of the European Parliament in Luxembourg, the European Citizens’ Initiative, the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee, and the network of Europe Direct centres in Luxembourg and the Greater Region –, it will organise a number of debates (including Citizens’ Dialogues), seminars, discussions and exhibitions, and will offer a wide range of information about the history of European integration, the EU’s principles and values, the EU institutions and the workings and policies of a united Europe.

The activities that took place in 2022 included:

•  the second Robert Schuman Lecture, entitled “Luxembourg – capitale européenne à cœur ou à raison?” (6 July), for which the University joined forces with major partners in Luxembourg (Luxembourg City Council, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the European Merit Foundation and the European Movement) and the Greater Region;
• the Citizens’ Dialogue for Young People – “What next for Europe’s youth? Current challenges and future prospects under debate” (4 October) –, during which Finance Minister Yuriko Backes and European Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni had the opportunity to exchange views with around a hundred students, researchers and teachers;
• and the launch of the original oral history project “The role of women in European and international relations in Luxembourg” (8 March), developed in collaboration with the Media Centre and the University, with results being shared with the Historical Archives of the European Union in Florence.

Based in the Luxembourg Learning Centre (LLC) on Belval Campus, Europe Direct University of Luxembourg is coordinated by the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C² DH) – the University’s third interdisciplinary research centre, which focuses on high-quality research, analysis and public dissemination in the field of contemporary Luxembourgish and European history. Europe Direct University of Luxembourg is managed by Dr Elena Danescu, a Research Scientist at the C² DH, and Anita Ikwene is responsible for the ED-UNILU desk at the LLC.

Publication of the University of Luxembourg 

Photo: Jens Kreisel and Anne Calteux. © University of Luxembourg

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Photo: © University of Luxembourg