
NUPI Centre for European Studies
NCE
Europe is in transition. European integration is challenged by forces of disintegration and face a challenging strategic environment. In parallel, we also observe attempts at further promoting European cooperation in economic policies and trade, in energy and in the field of foreign and security policy. For Norwegian foreign policy Europe remain a key strategic partner.
The aim of NCE is to be a source of policy-relevant research and expertise on the EU and European Affairs for the benefit of the Norwegian public and well as the public and private sector. NCE brings together research experience from several areas of comparative and foreign policy studies that relates to European and EU politics, economics, security and diplomacy.
The centre work closely with a number of research institutes and universities, in Europe and beyond. NCE also coordinates NUPI's membership in the European network for European Studies (TEPSA). NCE also its own seminar series with monthly seminars that covers topical issues in European affairs.
NUPI is involved in a number of research project on Europe and the EU. For instance, NUPI is coordinating a H2020 (EU funded) project entitled Preventing Violent Extremism in the Balkans and the MENA: Strengthening Resilience in Enabling Environments (PREVEX). In April 2019 the H2020 project Good intentions, mixed results – A conflict-sensitive unpacking of the EU comprehensive approach to conflict and crisis mechanisms (EUNPACK) was finalized. In this project, we investigated the Union’s capacity for crisis response from a bottom up perspective. NUPI is also part of other H2020 projects, such as Community-based policing and post-conflict police reform (ICT4COP) and Integration and Differentiation for Effectiveness and Accountability (EUIDEA) coordinated by IAI in Rome.
Another key project is the three year RCN funded project 'Europe in transition – Small states and Europe in an age of global shifts' (EUNOR) – a project that has investigated how small states in Europe (members and non-members) balance between autonomy and integration in the area of the internal market, global trade, energy as well as foreign and security policy. Recently, we have also been accorded a new RCN funded project that builds on the research done in EUNOR. The new project, starting in January 2019, will be focusing on the development towards a more flexible or differentiated integration within European foreign, security and defence policy. The project title is: Balancing between integration and autonomy. Understanding the drivers and mechanisms of EU’s foreign, security and defence policy (EUFLEX).
In addition, NUPI is partner in another new RCN funded project led by Professor Marianne Riddervold at INN entitled Transatlantic Relations in times of Uncertainty. Drivers and Mechanisms of EU-US relations (TransAt). Our researchers also follows closely the consequences of Brexit for the EU and for Norway and the on-going project BREXIT in EU/EEA law is funded by the Norwegian MFA. The Nordic region is also of special interest for the centre. NUPI has had projects on Nordic defence cooperation (NORDEFCO) and on the Nordic countries role in the world (GEONOR). For our research on Europe-Asia relations, take a look at our Europe-Asia Research Centre (NEAR).
For further information about our activities, visit our project pages and see our publication overview on Europe and the EU.
News
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Rethinking differentiated integration
17 Sep 2019Several NUPI researchers contributed to the debate about differentiated integration in the area of security and defence at the annual conference of the European International... -
Five paradoxes EU must address to effectively respond to crises beyond its borders
4 Mar 2019Engaging in ongoing conflicts brings with it a set of extraordinary challenges. -
EUNPACK Final Conference: synthesising three years of research on the EU’s crisis response
26 Mar 2019Conflict sensitivity in focus as the three-year NUPI-led research project on the EU’s crisis response (EUNPACK) organised a final conference in Brussels in March. -
Norway’s cooperation with the EU – 4 ways ahead
28 Feb 2019Can Norway benefit from closer collaboration with the EU on foreign and security policy? -
European countries differ in how they talk critical issues with China
28 Jan 2019This is the conclusion in a new report addressing political values in Europe-China relations. Hans Jørgen Gåsemyr (NUPI and UiB) has written the chapter on Norway. -
ANALYSIS: Resolving Brexit
19 Dec 2018Brexit is in crisis. The options are limited, and they have not changed much since 2016. Now, time is running out. Exiting the EU without an agreement, widely recognized as...- Nick Sitter
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PODCAST: Is the EU ready to handle the major challenges it is facing?
30 Nov 2018Ivan Krastev reflects on the crises that has shaped the EU for the past decades. -
The EU in the Middle East - how to prevent terrorism and violent extremism?
13 Nov 2018That was the topic for the project EUNPACK's contribution to the MERI Forum 2018. -
PODCAST: What will Europe look like after Brexit?
7 May 2018This was the key question for EU expert Caroline de Gruyter’s NUPI talk. -
PODCAST: Brexit and implications for the EU, EEA and Norway
31 Oct 201730 October marked the end of the three yearlong EUNOR project. Podcasts are now available on all the topics that were discussed during the conference. -
Good neighbours – the end of the affair?
29 Jun 2016The EU’s relationship with several neighbouring countries has shifted from harmony to tension. But might the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) have served to make security... -
Unpacking EU crisis response
9 Nov 2015How does the EU respond to crises? This is the key question posed by a group of NUPI researchers who have succeeded in the competition for funding within the world’s largest... -
How can the EU improve its response to crises?
25 Mar 2019Researchers within and beyond Europe have been studying the EU's approach to conflict and crises. Here's what they found out.
Projects
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Foto: NTB Scanpix
Research projectHOW TO PREVENT VIOLENT EXTREMISM? PREVEX will contribute to more effective policies that prevents violent extremism through strengthening societal resilience.
Preventing Violent Extremism in the Balkans and the MENA: Strengthening Resilience in Enabling Environments (PREVEX)
2020 - 2023 (Ongoing)The overarching objective of PREVEX is to put forward more fine-tuned and effective approaches to preventing violent extremism.
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Foto: Etienne Ansotte/EC Audiovisual Sevice Research project
Balancing between integration and autonomy. Understanding the drivers and mechanisms of EU's foreign, security and defense policy (EUFLEX)
2019 - 2021 (Ongoing)The project will investigate the ongoing process towards differentiated integration in European foreign, security and defence policy.
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Research project
EU Integration and Differentiation for Effectiveness and Accountability (EUIDEA)
2019 - 2021 (Ongoing)EUIDEA is a H2020 project, which aims to break new ground on differentiated integration in terms of conceptual approach, policies and networks.
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Foto: Johan Falnes/NTB Scanpix Research project
Norway meets Europe
2015 - 2021 (Ongoing)Europe is constantly changing. Norway has close links to the EU and Europe, and economic and political transitions on the continent will have considerable consequences for the country.
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Research project
Europe in transition – Small states and Europe in an age of global shifts (EUNOR )
2014 - 2017 (Completed)What is the significance of the EU for small states in Europe today?
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Research project
Community-based policing and post-conflict police reform (ICT4COP)
2015 - 2020 (Ongoing)This research project will create greater knowledge of social, cultural, legal and ethical dimensions of community-based policing in post-conflict societies.
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Research project
Good intentions, mixed results – A conflict sensitive unpacking of the EU comprehensive approach to conflict and crisis mechanisms (EUNPACK)
2015 - 2019 (Completed)The EUNPACK project unpacks EU crisis response mechanisms, with the aim to increase their conflict sensitivity and efficiency.