On Friday 10 March 2023, the rector of the University of Luxembourg, Prof. Jens Kreisel and the Representative of the European Commission in Luxembourg, Anne Calteux, signed the agreement on the funding for 2023 of the “Europe Direct at the University of Luxembourg” project (ED-UNILU). The agreement comes after a competitive public history call co-funded by the European Commission for the period 2021-2025.
ED-UNILU is geared towards a broad audience, with the aim of informing students, researchers, teachers and the general public about issues related to the European Union’s history and current affairs, as well as reflecting on potential future challenges. In 2023, ED-UNILU will organise debates (including Citizens’ Dialogues), seminars and exhibitions, and will provide a wide range of information about European integration, the EU’s principles and values, the EU institutions and the workings and policies of a united Europe. Activities will be coordinated with various partners – especially the European Commission Representation and the Liaison Office of the European Parliament in Luxembourg, the European Citizens’ Initiative, the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee, and the network of Europe Direct centres in Luxembourg and the Greater Region.
The 2022 activities included:
- the second Robert Schuman Lecture, entitled “Luxembourg – capitale européenne à cœur ou à raison?” (6 July), for which the University joined forces with the Luxembourg City Council, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the Fondation du Mérite européen and the European Movement.
- the Citizens’ Dialogue for Young People – “What next for Europe’s youth? Current challenges and future prospects under debate” (4 October) –, during which Minister of Finance Yuriko Backes and European Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni had the opportunity to exchange views with a hundred students, researchers and teachers.
- and the launch of the oral history project “The role of women in European and international relations in Luxembourg” (8 March), developed with the University, with results being shared with the Historical Archives of the European Union in Florence.
Based in the Luxembourg Learning Centre (LLC) on Belval campus, Europe Direct University of Luxembourg is coordinated by the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (CElena DanescuDH) and is managed by Dr 2. Anita Ikwene is responsible for the ED-UNILU desk at the LLC.