The Centre is dedicated to Altiero Spinelli, a major figure of European federalism, whose work and whose commitment, starting from the “Ventotene Manifesto” (written together with Ernesto Rossi and published with the contribution of Eugenio Colorni), marked the development of the idea of European unity, in particular with the 1984 Draft Treaty establishing the European Union (commonly known as “Spinelli Project”), which has become one of the main sources of inspiration for all the European Union (EU) Treaties.
After the three-year period of activity based on the grant agreement with the European Commission CeAS continued to carry out its scientific mission in the field of European studies ranging from research projects, post-graduate course, publications, working papers, the EuroViews blog, open didactic materials, along with the organisation of conferences, seminars and cultural events (Giornate per l’Europa/Europe Days, the international award “Cittadinanza Europea”).
More recently (2017-2020) CeAS was the principal investigator of the Horizion 2020 project Terrorism Previention Via Radicalisation Counter-Narrative (TRIVALENT).
Vision
In today’s globalized and interconnected world, societies and cultures are no longer isolated entities; they interact, overlap, and mutually transform.
Accelerated mobility, global market integration, migration flows, and advanced communication technologies have diminished the distance between “us” and “others,” generating a shared yet complex space of coexistence.
This reality, which presents both risks and opportunities, requires new conceptual and methodological approaches, such as the adoption of an inclusive logic that goes beyond binary oppositions (“aut-aut”) towards a reconciliatory framework (“et-et”); and the recognition of hybrid cultural identities and multiple affiliations not as reasons for conflict but as the foundation for plural coexistence.
A key-point is the “complexity in diversity” challenge connected to “citizen quality” as basic condition for enhancing the socio-political and cultural value of the individual person in each local, national, international and global context.
Through an integrated agenda of research, dissemination, educational and cultural initiatives, as well as international partnerships, CeAS goal is to deepen the understanding of issues that challenge a peoples’ Europe committed to respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, as fundamental values of a society ―at local, national and global levels― in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity prevail.
CeAS vision thus aims embracing the idea that stable and just peace —peace without war as an alternative— can only be achieved if and when “we all” truly believe to be part of one world, as citizens who act local and think global.
Mission
In continuity with the university Centre, CeAS activities cover a variety of sectors and topics, all round the central idea of European citizenship at the core of the integration process, including: fundamental rights; area of freedom, security and justice; European policies; comparison and integration of European legal systems; European social model; Euro-Mediterranean integration; Intercultural dialogue; European Union external action; Development cooperation and humanitarian aid; Environmental protection and sustainable development.
A current activity of particular relevance by CeAS is the publication of the electronic journal “la cittadinanza europea online” (lceonline), a quarterly open access periodical, which complements the half-yearly paper journal “La cittadinanza europea” (FrancoAngeli publisher), with the aim of enriching and expanding the content offering, providing analysis and discussion tools as well as opportunities for collaboration between lawyers and with scholars and experts in socio-political and economic disciplines, for a readership interested in deepening their knowledge of the European integration process in its originality, complexity and variety of aspects linked to the evolutionary dimension of the construction of European unity.
More information on CeAS vision mission at: CeAS Research Strategy.
More about Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence
Contact us
Email: centroeas2021@gmail.com
