The Center for European Integration Studies (Zentrum für Europäische Integrationsforschung, ZEI) is an interdisciplinary research and training institute at the University of Bonn/Germany, based in its Faculty of Arts and its Faculty of Law and Economics. 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 has established itself as a national center of excellence in matters of European research, post-graduate education and public outreach. ZEI’s directors are Prof. Dr. Ludger Kühnhardt (executive director), Prof. Dr. Christian Koenig and Prof. Dr. Jürgen von Hagen.
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The Bonn-Berlin Treaty 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” (ZEI) and a "Center for Development Research” (ZEF) 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" (ZEI) and the "Center for Development Research." (ZEF)
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.”
The research and consulting activities of ZEI are executed in research groups. Currently, four research groups operate at ZEI:
The work of this research focuses on the role and development of institutions in the context of European integration. In addition, the coordination of economic and fiscal policy in EU countries is an important issue with respect to institutions. ZEI followed the EU Treaty Reform process from the Treaty of Amsterdam to the Treaty of Lisbon, at which an interdisciplinary commentary was developed jointly with French partners. Issues and problems of governance in the EU multilevel system have been an intense focus of ZEI in addition to questions of fiscal federalism. The research also deals with the controversial process of Turkey's accession negotiations with the EU. Additionally ZEI also addresses issues of political identity and issues of intercultural and inter-religious dialogue aimed at forming bridges between the different scientific traditions in a way that impacts the political public.
This research is divided into research projects which deal with sector-specific issues and reform plans of the subjects. The project group works on areas of European telecommunications law, energy, railroad law, procurement law and the regulation of European healthcare markets and European pharmaceutical law. Two twinning projects in Morocco and Poland on public competition have largely benefited from the consultative support of ZEI.
The focus of this research on the comprehensive economic analysis of fiscal federalism which is responsible for establishing a federal system in Europe is of great importance. In addition to monitoring and observing processes that have led to the introduction of the euro, the political-economic approach and the preoccupation with the question of the design of fiscal policies of member countries in the monetary union has also been of importance to the work of this research group. In addition, questions regarding the implementation of EU directives in member states have also been studied. Another focus of this research lies in the analysis of the changing comparative advantages and the transfer of knowledge and technology in the global economy.
The work of this research focuses on developing a global profile of the EU under the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the global projection of the EU as a model of regional integration. In addition to the political institutions, the research of this group deals with issues of EU's neighborhood policy, especially in view of the EU’s Mediterranean Policy.
With the systematic work on the intersection of bi-regional EU policy and comparative research on non-European integration groupings, this research group presented solid scientific competence which also has been transferred to training initiatives on comparative regional integration and policy-related cooperation and advice with non-European integration groupings.
Two monographic publication series have emerged in ZEI:
With two separate series of working papers ZEI has found worldwide attention in academia and public institutions:
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
ZEI has published and continues to publish three policy briefs:
"ZEI Regional Integration Observer", since 2007 the pioneering work in the continuous comparison of regional integration processes worldwide.
ZEI carries out two one-year post-graduate studies at Masters level: • The interdisciplinary “Master of European Studies” (MES) 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” are post-graduate students with professional experience from across the EU and worldwide. Their career patterns in public institutions, private secotr, academia and media are outstanding and form a huge network of alumni. The ZEI “Master of European Studies” offers opportunities for a career related to European integration developments. Twelve MES Classes composing of 315 Fellows from 52 countries have graduated from this program between 1998 and 2010. Many of ZEI’s Master Fellows have embarked on significant careers throughout the world.
• The "Master of European Regulation of Network Industries” (MERNI) offered at ZEI since 2007/2008 is a specialized postgraduate course leading to the Master of Laws (LL.M.). The focus here is on questions related to the impact of legal and regulatory developments of European integration on the functioning of network industries and the strategic options for action by legislators and business. 42 Fellows from 17 countries participated successfully in the first three MERNI Classes and have gone on to build successful careers. In addition, ZEI regularly offers Summer Schools and Mid-Career Training Programs. Particularly noteworthy are the Transatlantic Summer Academy, the ZEI Summer School in Macroeconomics and the ZEI Academy in Comparative Regional Integration.