Center for European Integration Studies


The Center for European Integration Studies is an interdisciplinary research and post-graduate education institute at the University of Bonn, Germany, based in its Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Law. ZEI has participated in research, policy advice, and dialogue between science and practice since its establishment in 1995. ZEI also offers graduate education and mid-career training opportunities to contribute to the resolution of unresolved issues of European integration and the shaping of Europe's global role. ZEI directors are Prof. Dr. Ludger Kühnhardt and Prof. Dr. Christian Koenig.

Background and Structure

The Berlin-Bonn Act of May 29, 1994–dealing with the consequence of the move of Germany’s national political institutions from Bonn to Berlin - provided for the establishment of a "Center for European Integration Studies” and a "Center for Development Research” as central scientific institutions of the University of Bonn. On May 4, 1995 the Senate of the University of Bonn agreed to establish these two centers. The overall concept was formulated in consultation with the participating organs of the federal government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is based on an original proposal of the Senate of the University of Bonn from February 11, 1993. The Senate decision of May 4, 1995 is considered the founding date of the "Center for European Integration Studies" and the "Center for Development Research."
According to the founding resolution of the Senate of the University of Bonn of May 4, 1995, the tasks of ZEI are as follows: "ZEI will function as a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary institution aimed working on problems in the areas of political, legal, economic, social and cultural integration disparities in a regional and pan-European context. ZEI will conduct basic research in the conceptual area that encourages integration of research and to coordinate these efforts within the University and externally. ZEI is to take part in the solutions of concrete problems of integration by offering practical advice. All in all ZEI sees itself as a platform for the discussion of policy issues, a place to develop concepts, hypotheses and models. As an interface between theory and practice, ZEI focuses on institutional- and capacity-building in the field of integration research in Europe. ZEI can only realize its aforementioned goals through consistent openness to the public, through inclusion of guest researchers and through close cooperation with non-university institutions to integrate research, practice and integration of the European Union.”

Research and Post-Graduate (Master)Education

The Center for European Integration Studies provides future oriented research on unresolved issues of European integration and the global role of Europe. ZEI’s research and teaching emphasis on “Governance and Regulation in the EU” brings together two aspects whose critical interplay shapes the EU, its impact on citizens’ lives and its role globally. The work of ZEI - basically in the fields of political science and law - is applied and linked with innovative knowledge transfer. The dynamic interplay between governance and regulation in the EU serves as the touch stone for research, teaching and consulting work conducted at ZEI.
ZEI offers postgraduate students an English-speaking Master in European Studies - Governance and Regulation. An international faculty from across Europe guarantees highest scholarly standards, offering diverse methods and perspectives on politics, law and economics. Practical experts and excursions to the decision-making centers of European politics add to the international atmosphere at ZEI in Bonn.

Publications

ZEI publishes in its own series: "ZEI Discussion Paper", the "Future of Europe Observer", and "ZEI Insights" deal with issues of governance and regulation in the European Union. ZEI also monitors the work of the European Union's institutions and publishes regular comments on progress or failure, including the "ZEI Monitor". ZEI scholars also contribute regularly to national and international publications. * Nomos Publishing House publishes the “Schriften des Zentrum für Europäische Integrationsforschung,” edited by ZEI Director Prof. Dr. Ludger Kühnhardt. Until 2016, there have been 76 books published in this series. The Nomos Publishing House offers the leading publishing program on questions of European research in Germany.
In the field of jurisprudence dealing with network industries, communications and the respective European regulation legislation, ZEI Director Prof. Dr. Christian Koenig is Managing Editor of the journal series
Since 1998, ZEI offers a one-year post-graduate Master program in English:
The interdisciplinary “Master of European Studies - Governance and Regulation” features academics and practitioners from across Europe. They cover issues of politics, law and economics related to European integration. The Fellows of ZEI’s “Master of European Studies - Governance and Regulation” are post-graduate students with professional experience from across the EU and worldwide. Their career paths include public institutions, private sector, academia and the media and form a network of more than 500 alumni in over 100 countries.
In addition, ZEI regularly offers Summer Schools and Mid-Career Training Programs. Particularly noteworthy is the ZEI Academy in Comparative Regional Integration which accompanied ZEI's research on global comparative regional integration studies.