York is recognized as a leader in European studies and has been actively building its concentration in EU studies. Over the past few years, York has attracted numerous new European-focused faculty appointments across a variety of disciplines, including law, political science, business, public administration and humanities. The hub of this activity has been the Canadian Centre for German and European Studies (CCGES), whose affiliated faculty and staff form a natural constituency and administrative backbone for the activities planned by the new EUCE.

"We are tremendously proud of York’s leadership and research excellence in European studies, " said Stan Shapson, vice-president, research & innovation. "The activities of the EUCE will promote understanding and knowledge of the European Union as a major player in the global political and economic system, and will be key in promoting the importance of the EU-Canada relationship, its political, economic, security and cultural dimensions, and the widening range of global and regional issues jointly addressed by the EU and Canada."

With this award, York joins a network of two dozen EUCEs worldwide. York’s EUCE will be hosted by CCGES and directed by Willem Maas, Jean Monnet Chair in European Integration and associate professor of political science and public & international affairs, Glendon College.

The EUCE’s multi-disciplinary team also includes:

Burkard Eberlein, assistant professor, policy specialization, Schulich School of Business;

Roger Keil, director, CITY Institute, director, Canadian Centre for German and European Studies, and professor, Faculty of Environmental Studies;

Heather MacRae, assistant professor, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies;

Peter McIsaac, associate professor, Department of Languages, Literatures & Linguistics, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies;

Ian Roberge, associate professor, political science and public & international affairs, Glendon College;

Karen Robson, assistant professor, sociology, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies;

Craig Scott, director, Nathanson Centre on Transnational Human Rights, Crime & Security, and professor, Osgoode Hall Law School;

Dagmar Soennecken, assistant professor, School of Public Policy & Administration, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies;

Leah Vosko, Canada Research Chair and associate professor, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies;

Robert Wai, associate professor, Osgoode Hall Law School;

Peer Zumbansen, Canada Research Chair in the Transnational and Comparative Law of Corporate Governance, associate professor, Osgoode Hall Law School.   

About the European Union Centres of Excellence

Established in 1998 by the European, the network of European Union Centres of Excellence in universities provides information and education about the European Union. The objectives of the EU Centres are to increase awareness in Canada about the political, economic and cultural importance of the EU-Canada relationship, to promote greater understanding in Canada of the European Union and its policies, and to disseminate information and publicize EU views on issues of interest within regional communities. Website: www.yorku.ca/euce.

York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as 200,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 10 Faculties and 28 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation.

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For more information, contact:

Sarah Whitaker, Senior Research Officer, York University, 416-736-2100 x20757/ sarahw@yorku.ca