The Centre for European Research (CER) led by Dr Sarah Wolff from Queen Mary’s School of Politics and International Relations, has been awarded a prestigious Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence award.
The three-year Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence program NEXTEUK will fund research, teaching and public engagement activities related to the future of the European Union (EU)-United Kingdom (UK) relations.
Dr Sarah Wolff said: "This prestigious award is a recognition of the quality and excellence of the work of CER so far and will support promising and ambitious research, teaching and outreach activities on the future of the EU-UK relationship, which is so needed at this crucial time as the UK heads towards a possible no-deal exit from the EU."
Professor Adrian Smith, Deputy Vice Principal (Research Excellence) said: "This is an outstanding achievement for Sarah Wolff, Director of the Centre for European Research, as it will enable research at Queen Mary to contribute further to understanding one of the most critical issues of our time, namely the relationship between the UK and continental Europe and the European Union.
"At a time of real challenge to long-standing established relationships it is critical more than ever that informed expert analysis is used to understand the deep-seated political, economic and social connections between the UK and its neighbours."
NEXTEUK will offer a structured space for academic and policy reflection on the future of the EU-UK relationship. Specifically, the project will assess the historical achievements of the EU-UK relationship so far and identify best practice. It will analyse the roots of Brexit and its implications for European integration and British politics while offering forward-looking analysis on the future of the EU-UK relationship and formulate policy-relevant recommendations.
NEXTEUK will create new avenues for enhanced academic and policy cooperation between the EU and the UK and promote a better understanding of each other's mutual interests and common future in a rapidly evolving global order.
The project, NEXTEUK has been co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union and will be led by Dr Sarah Wolff, CER members and internationally recognised researchers from across multiple disciplines.
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