York University has been awarded a European Union Centre of Excellence grant by the European Commission in Brussels. At York, the EUCE will be housed at the Canadian Centre for German and European Studies and will work to both integrate York University’s existing research, teaching, outreach, and networking activities on Europe and the EU and to introduce and facilitate new activities, at York and in the wider region, promoting knowledge and understanding of the EU and the importance of the EU-Canada relationship.

The EUCE at York will be a member of a network of five Canadian EUCEs which is intended to provide a key focal point for outreach on EU issues to the Canadian public and  specialized constituencies, such as the public service, the media, the business community and others.

Faculty from a variety of disciplines, including Political Science, Law, Business, Sociology and Public Policy, will contribute to the success of the EUCE at York while the project will be directed by Willem Maas, the Jean Monnet Chair in European Integration and professor of political science and public & international affairs at York’s bilingual Glendon campus.