Research activity advancing the ‘state of the art’ knowledge
Maynooth University has been awarded almost €100,000 for a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence to be led by Professor John O’Brennan, Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration and Director of Maynooth Centre of European and Eurasian Studies. The award is for three years.
The award for the Maynooth Centre for European and Eurasian Studies will support the consolidation of inter-disciplinary research on South Eastern Europe at Maynooth University, harnessing the capacities of high level experts in history, politics and sociology and creating new partnerships with universities in South Eastern Europe.
Maynooth will receive over €40,000 for a Jean Monnet Chair in EU Law and Fundamental Rights to be led by Professor of Law Tobias Lock. The award for Professor Lock is the only Jean Monnet Chair awarded to an Irish university in 2020 and will be the only Jean Monnet Chair in the field of law in Ireland.
The research activity will help advance the ‘state of the art’ knowledge about South Eastern Europe in both history and politics/sociology. The History dimension will examine the modern history and development of the Balkans, and the interface between European developments and domestic Balkan dynamics.
Jean Monnet Chairs, awarded through the EU’s Erasmus+ programme, are teaching posts with a specialisation in EU studies for university professors.
The Politics/Sociology lens will evaluate a range of areas, including EU enlargement policy, rule of law issues and European integration in the Western Balkans. It will also include an important comparative dimension, including the evaluation of conflict resolution frameworks in the Balkans and Northern Ireland.
This award constitutes recognition of the important research achievements and international academic standing of the Centre
38 – Maynooth University
