A new ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-CRIS Memorandum of Understanding between the Flemish Government, the ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ, and two Flemish universities was approved by the Flemish Government for the coming five year period 2022-2026, signalling the Flemish Community¡¯s commitment to the Bruges-based Institute and the study of regional integration and multi-level governance.
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Bruges, 6 January 2022 ¨C The Flemish Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies (²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-CRIS) as a Second Memorandum of Understanding between the Flemish Community (Kingdom of Belgium), the ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ, Ghent University and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) was approved by the Council of Ministers on 17 December 2021 for five years (2022-2026), providing an annual subsidy of 1 million euros.
The decision followed an extensive external review of the institute¡¯s activities over the previous MoU period (2016-2021), which concluded that ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-CRIS had ¡°considerable¡± impact on policy at the international, national and local levels and was of ¡°great added value¡± for increasing Flemish/Belgian visibility at the international level.
In the framework of the quadrilateral partnership, in place since October 2016, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-CRIS has positioned itself as one of the leading global institutes on regional integration and multi-level governance, developing research clusters focusing on key policy areas such as migration and social policy, climate and natural resources, trade and investment, and digital governance.
¡°We are thrilled that the Flemish government has approved a new MoU for the coming five-year period¡±. said ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-CRIS Director Philippe De Lombaerde.
¡°Never before has our world been so interconnected and intertwined, and studying the interactions between the different levels of governance is at the core of what we do at ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-CRIS. We serve as a bridge between research and policy, exploring the various levels of governance and how they can work together to tackle some of the most pressing issues of our time. It is a role we are uniquely positioned to play, as part of the UN family, located close to the heart of a leading regional organisation in Brussels and with strong links to many others, together with close ties to a subnational body in Flanders. Over the next five years we look forward to furthering our research and expertise, and using it to contribute to the goals of the United Nations.¡±
²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Rector and United Nations Under-Secretary-General David Malone said: ¡°In spite of COVID-19 restrictions and disruption, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-CRIS, the team of which I visited in Bruges in October, is doing a terrific job initiating innovative programming, with strong support from its two partner universities, Ghent University and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. We are delighted that the Flemish Government has increased and extended, in time, over five years its financial support for this exciting team.¡±
The new Memorandum of Understanding will see the flourishing and fruitful partnership between ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-CRIS and its two local partner universities, Ghent University and the VUB, continue for another five years, providing a two-way exchange of expertise, knowledge, and access, from the supranational to the local level and vice-versa.
Rector of Ghent University Rik Van de Walle said: ¡°I am delighted with the results of the external review and the decision of the Flemish Government, and at the same time also very proud of Ghent University¡¯s contribution to the achievements of ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-CRIS. In the next five years, we will gladly continue our work within this productive partnership and offer room for new researchers to strengthen the ranks of ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-CRIS. And if proof were still needed: cooperation pays off. By combining the strengths of different research groups from Flanders and Brussels, we truly make a difference in the big United Nations family, which not only provides exposure at the highest international level for our researchers but also strengthens the image and reputation of the entire Flemish higher education and scientific research sector."
VUB Rector Caroline Pauwels added: ¡°The VUB is a proud a partner of ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-CRIS and the ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ. Our collaboration goes back to the year 2000 and is now, thanks to the Flemish Government, guaranteed for another five years. The VUB offers ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-CRIS not only a foot in Brussels, the diplomatic city par excellence, but we also started up a joint unit of the Brussels School of Governance and ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-CRIS on Non-traditional Diplomacy (UNTRAD) that focuses on science diplomacy. Together with our colleagues of Ghent University we look forward to deepening our academic collaboration with the UN to the benefit of thinking, debating and shaping global and regional governance.¡±
The value of ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-CRIS to Flanders is clearly demonstrated by the new MoU¡¯s inclusion as taken by the Flemish Department of Economy, Science and Innovation (EWI) in 2021.
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About ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-CRIS
The ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies (²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-CRIS), established in 2001, is one of the research and training institutes of the ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ network.
The network consists of 13 institutes worldwide, engaging in research and capacity development in order to support the universal goals of the UN. Through ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ, leading scholars from around the world are brought together to generate innovative and policy relevant knowledge, contributing to a brighter future.
The specific mission of ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-CRIS is to foster a better understanding of the processes of regional integration and cooperation and their implications in a changing world order. ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-CRIS specialises in the comparative study of regional integration, monitoring and assessing regional integration worldwide and in the study of interactions between the various levels of governance and institutions. As of October 2016, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-CRIS has been cooperating with the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Ghent University.
²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-CRIS acts as a think tank for the UN, with particular links to the UN bodies dealing with regional integration, and works in partnership with institutes and initiatives throughout the world that are concerned with issues of integration and cooperation.
Media Contact
²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-CRIS
Andrew Dunn
Policy and Communications Officer
Phone: +32 468 161 485 (mobile)
adunn@cris.unu.edu
Ghent University
Carl Devos
Coordinator UGent in West-Flanders
carl.devos@ugent.be
VUB
Luk Van Langenhove
Academic Commissioner for International Institutes and Networks
+32 473 98 19 56
luk.van.langenhove@vub.be
