The IES 2003 Activity Report

After two years, our institute is now up to speed and can already pride itself on a wide base of events, publications and initiatives in the areas of education and research. For example, the IES has embarked upon two series of lectures, each covering a topical theme at the very heart of European Studies. In 2003, we covered the themes of “Globalisation” and “European Security”, and, in the future, we will be looking at “Environment” and “Sustainable Development”. Although these lectures tie in with the Programme on International Legal Cooperation, their impact will extend beyond it.

There is a process at work in the Institute for European Studies, as in the European Union itself. This process is one of “deepening” and “widening”. Above all else, the IES has concentrated on “deepening” its research, and has done so by setting up several new research programmes within its scientific remit, and increasing its research potentiality in existing projects.

In addition, the IES has sought to “widen” its area of research by increasing the volume of interdisciplinary cooperation. This comparison with the EU is all the more pertinent since the widening is expected to take place in 2004.

A number of organisational steps have already been taken. Improvements were made in the Institute’s “functional autonomy”, and links were strengthened with other faculties, particularly the faculty of Economic, Social and Political Sciences (ESP). Last year, the IES also made preparations to attract a number of senior research fellows with a view to broadening its research basis and meeting the demand for research studies from third parties, as well as organising colloquia, workshops and conferences.

However, we must not overstate our achievements. The organisation still has to earn its place on the scientific map. This is why our research holds so much promise; after two years, the Institute is producing papers and publications and gaining recognition on an international scale. Hardly any of the Institute’s scheduled research projects started prior to 2003. Needless to say, the results of these projects have yet to be realised.

This means that the IES is still very much an institute in the making. Thus, a continuous, constructive evaluation of its structure and operation should lead to an increase in the quality of its work. I believe that the wealth of initiatives, the quantity and quality of our research, and the heightened attraction of our education programme all show that we are on the right track.

Prof. Dr. Bart De Schutter
President IES

After the start-up in 2002, the IES began consolidating its activities in 2003. In the area of education, the Institute pursued its PILC policy. In line with this, it monitored the qualitative inflow of students and new lecturers, and continued its drive to increase the number of candidates for the programme. In the area of research, the IES continued to experience the effects of time-consuming start-up procedures: several projects had to start later than originally planned. That said, all of the projects initiated were up and running by the autumn of 2003. Almost all the objectives set out in the IES policy plan were achieved.

The initiatives are all in keeping with the objectives set out in the IES policy plan. To be more precise, in the area of education, these relate to setting up the Programme on International Legal Cooperation, investigating the potential for developing Masters courses in European Studies (which is being pursued under the theme of “globalisation” in cooperation with the University of Kent and the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), and has already lead to a collective symposium in cooperation with the Universität Wien and the Diplomatische Akademie Wien).The Institute is developing e-courses, and two series of lectures (one on “globalisation” and one on “European Security”). However, our current legal framework prevents us from starting up new Masters courses, and so the initiatives we have already taken have had to be confined to indirect forms of cooperation.

With regard to research, projects tie in with the proposed research topics, i.e. globalisation, environment, European integration and security. In order to cement the scientific basis, steps were taken in 2003 to attract a number of senior research fellows. It was their task to coordinate the themes put forward, and to develop initiatives to increase the scientific basis and character of the IES.

In the area of scientific services, the IES met all expectations by organising or co-organising several conferences and colloquia, and organising the series of lectures discussed above.

The IES’s revenues exceeded original estimates as the result of a number of external projects. Expenditure, on the other hand, remained a touch below budget: in all areas of expenditure, including investments, the institute was parsimonious, and, to ensure sustainability of the Institute’s operations, personnel costs have been strictly monitored so that they do not create long-term structural problems. As in the previous year, personnel accounted for only 62% of expenditure. This percentage is expected to rise in coming years, because projects will not be fully manned until late in 2003.

Anthony Antoine
Executive Director