THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF YUSTE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES ITS EUROPEAN RESEARCH AND MOBILITY GRANTS FOR EUROPEAN STUDIES „CHARLES V EUROPEAN AWARD - JAVIER SOLANA MADARIAGA‟ & VI DOCTORAL SEMINAR IN CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIES 2011 Session “European Union Foreign Relations and Foreign Policy, and Cooperation in the Mediterranean” With the academic support of S.E.G.E.I (SocioEconomic Governance and European Identity) Research Network, University of Extremadura RULES FOR APPLICANTS 1. Introduction and general aims The European Academy of Yuste Foundation announces its European Research and Mobility Grants for European Studies „Charles V European Award - Javier Solana Madariaga‟ (grants of 3,000 euros) and its “VI Doctoral Seminar in Contemporary European Multidisciplinary Studies” with the academic support of SEGEI (SocioEconomic Governance and European Identity) Research Network1, to take place at the Royal Monastery of Yuste (Extremadura, Spain) in the second semester of 2011. These European Research and Mobility Grants for European Studies „Charles V European Award - Javier Solana Madariaga‟ are aimed at supporting: i) the research within Europe required to prepare the contribution to the doctoral seminar in the Royal Monastery of Yuste; ii) the researchers‟ travel to Yuste to participate in the seminar and to attend the ceremony of presentation of the research papers; iii) the publication of the researchers‟ contributions in a collective work, encompassing the results of the research carried out in the framework of these grants. 2. Specific aims The research theme for these “Charles V European Award” grants is related to the latest recipient of the Prize awarded by the European Academy of Yuste Foundation, in this case the former European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and current President of the ESADE Centre for Economics and Geopolitics. We must also point out that the European Academy of Yuste Foundation has the support of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations within the framework of an agreement signed by both organizations for the development of the Mediterranean Regional Strategy. Therefore, the 2011 research subject, from a multidisciplinary viewpoint, is “European Union Foreign Relations and Foreign Policy, and Cooperation in the Mediterranean”. 1 The members of the SEGEI (Socio-Economic Governance and European Identity) Research Network are: Prof. Eric Bussière (IRICE, Paris I - Paris IV), Prof. Michel Dumoulin (Chaire Jean Monnet d’histoire de l’Europe contemporaine - GEHEC, Université catholique de Louvain, coordinator), Prof. Jürgen Elvert (Universität Köln und Zentrum für Europäische Integration, Universität Bonn), Prof. Matthias Kipping (Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona), Prof. Zdzisiaw Mach (Centre for European Studies, Uniwersytet Jagiellońsky University, Krakow), Prof. Enrique Moradiellos Garcia (Universidad de Extremadura), Prof. Mercedes Samaniego Boneu (Universidad de Salamanca), Prof. Sylvain Schirmann (Institut d’études politiques, Strasbourg), Prof. Luciano Segretto (Università degli Studi di Firenze), Prof. Antonio Varsori (Università degli studi di Padova). SEGEI also has associate members, i.e. the Alumni of the previous doctoral seminars. Fundación Academia Europea de Yuste 2 2 Dirección y Gerencia Real Monasterio de Yuste, Cuacos de Yuste (Cáceres) E-010430 Tlf. 0034. 927.01.40.90/2 Fax 0034.927.01.47.11 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.fundacionyuste.org The European Union has gained more power and influence on the international stage since its beginnings in 1950 and, although it is true that it‟s actions were more limited to the area of economics, the successive modifications, enlargements and political developments have increased the importance of foreign relations and diplomacy in general, especially after the Maastricht Treaty, which resulted in the constitution of the European Union as we know it today, and the Lisbon Treaty, which led to a significant strengthening of European Union foreign policy and provides for the creation and development of the European Union External Action Service. In addition to this, one of the aims of the last “troika” (Belgium, Spain and Hungary) was to improve its role and image, in view of the delicate international context, and to strengthen the role of the European Union at world level, by promoting its common values, peace and freedom, and at the same time highlight the need for a “strong Europe which knows how to be a leader” and is able to speak with one voice on the international stage. There is no doubt that the importance of the European Union increases as its member countries take joint foreign policy decisions which encompass a group of policies, instruments and capacities under the well-known term European Union External Action by means of which it develops its international relations, and which in many aspects like cooperation policy, conflict management, or relations with the Mediterranean, are an example to be followed. It has not been easy to come as far as we have, and there are still many challenges to be faced and strategies to define; we must develop towards a dynamic working method which allows for a fast and flexible adaptation to the challenges of a world which is changing at an incredible speed and in which events take place at a rate we have never seen until now and which demand immediate responses. In order to do this, we must analyse the way we have come so far, from a multidisciplinary perspective, to help us to understand the importance of foreign policy in the EU in the process of European integration, and how this has affected development ion other countries and other democracies, with an aim to prevent the errors of the past and improve future strategies. The following have been proposed: Taking into account the historical factor, by analysing European cooperation in foreign policy, particularly in the Mediterranean region, since its beginnings, that is, since 1960, taking into account aspects like the Fouchet Plan, which was an alternative to the European Communities, the forming of European Policy Cooperation (CPE) in 1970, progress made in the 1970s and 80s in certain areas like Middle Eastern affairs, and Mediterranean affairs, the first efforts at cooperation in armament, institutional development in the 1980s and 90s, the forming of the European Union Common Foreign and Security Fundación Academia Europea de Yuste 3 3 Dirección y Gerencia Real Monasterio de Yuste, Cuacos de Yuste (Cáceres) E-010430 Tlf. 0034. 927.01.40.90/2 Fax 0034.927.01.47.11 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.fundacionyuste.org Policy, the role of the European Commission Directorate General for Foreign Relations, enlargement processes, third-country relations, and the latest advances made in the twenty-first century, including the position of the EU in relation to its Member States and to other countries (recent examples being the creation of the new post of European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, the aim of which is that the EU has a say in its foreign relations, or strategies in the face of important migratory flows). We must also take into account the political and institutional relations, both internal and external, which have led to the present situation, including the role played by different community institutions and organisations, analysing successes and failures, taking into account important aspects like political, economic, legal, commercial, cultural or security factors. Or others like respect for human rights, European values, freedom, solidarity, promotion of intercultural dialogue, the defence of peace and strengthening of civil society which have been key factors in the development of European Union foreign relations and policies, especially in the Mediterranean region. At the same time, it would be interesting to analyse other fundamental aspects like EU cooperation policy and humanitarian aid which have resulted in the EU being the greatest donor in the world with almost half the aid donated to the world‟s poor countries coming from the EU and its Member States. The European Neighbourhood Policy is without a doubt another key aspect of study, particularly due to its strategic condition and relations with the Mediterranean region. Not only because of the latter‟s proximity to the European Union and ion the light of events taking place there, but also because of its importance at world level in significant aspects like security, the economy, commerce and energy, and particularly in aspects related to peace, political stability, democracy, human rights, migratory flows, intercultural cooperation and dialogue, including strategies like the Barcelona process and the Union for the Mediterranean. At the same time, other complementary initiatives carried out by international organisations like the United Nations through the Alliance of Civilizations should also be taken into account. It would also be interesting to analyse the role of organised Civil Society in the development and strengthening of European Union foreign relations and to consider the work carried out by Foundations, Associations, NGOs, Think Tanks, universities, etc. The media have also played a key role in the fields of institutional, diplomatic and political relations, informing, clarifying and promoting debate and reflection, analysing pros and contras and creating citizen conscience. Fundación Academia Europea de Yuste 4 4 Dirección y Gerencia Real