Working for the European future on Florence hills

The great of the United Europe in Florence thanks to a centre of international excellence
Working for the European future on Florence hills The European University Institute introduces itself to Florence with the Festival d’Europa Festival d’Europa

Florence, 11 February 2011 – Not many people know it, but the building of the Europe of tomorrow has been studied and planned for years on Florence hills. All this thanks to the European University Institute (EUI), an institution financed by 20 EU Member States and the EU itself, with its offices in the Badia Fiesolana di San Domenico. The research centre for social studies was established in 1972 by the Member States of the formerly European Community, with the purpose of running doctorate courses with a European orientation. The Institute is divided into four departments: History and Civilization, Economics, Law and Political and Social Sciences, in addition to a Research Centre for European Studies known as the Robert Schuman Centre. The Institute is attended by approximately 600 researchers, mainly from EU countries, but also from other areas, who are awarded high level Research Doctorates. There are 48 teachers (from 16 different countries), 10 of which are Italian. Each year, 160 recent university graduates wishing to attend the EUI Doctorate Course are chosen among approximately 1500 candidates. The Research Doctorate awarded by the EUI is a very prestigious qualification, taking into account that some Departments of the EUI occupy the first positions in the academic “rankings” of relevant subjects. The Institute manages also the Historical Archives of the European Union, proving that who wants to study the European Union must come to Florence. Many personalities have visited the Institute on Florence hills over the years. From 1999 on, it is possible to mention in particular the visits of President Bill Clinton, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, President Romano Prodi, Secretary-General of the EU Council Javier Solana, President of the European Parliament Pat Cox, President of the Italian Republic Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato, Prince Charles of England, President of the Polish Republic Aleksandr Kwasniewski and President of the European Convention Valery Giscard d’Estaing. All information on www.eui.eu