(AGENPARL) – LUXEMBOURG ven 21 aprile 2023

The Fondation du Mérite Européen, founded in 1970, has worked together with The Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance (FDEF) as well as the Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (FHSE) at the University of Luxembourg to act on their mission of promoting ideals of European unity through a variety of actions since 2014. The foundation is headquartered in the birthplace of Robert Schuman, a building which has also been historically occupied by the University of Luxembourg.

With the motto “Vouloir l’Europe, Connaître l’Europe, Agir pour sa réalisation.” (Wanting Europe, knowing its problems, acting to achieve it), the Fondation du Mérite Européen organises and participates in conferences, confers a European Order of Merit award to eminent figures who have contributed to the advancement of European values, as well awarding academic excellence among Master Students in fields of Law and Political Science at the University of Luxembourg.

Opening the ceremony, Prof. Katalin Ligeti, Dean of the FDEF, reminded the participants of the shared values between the Fondation du Mérite Européen and the University. Touching upon the programmes’ focus on European law, as well as the European dimension of much of the department’s research, Prof. Ligeti stated “a young student who has chosen to continue his studies in Law at the University of Luxembourg is also choosing to be open to Europe.” Prof. Ligeti continued by evoking the need to counter growing threats to European values, calling for each party to continue to act together to ensure the preservation of the European Union.

Prof. Robert Harmsen, Dean of the FHSE then took to the podium to speak about the joint initiatives which have benefitted from the support of the Fondation du Mérite Européen. Highlighting the interdisciplinarity of projects such as the Robert Schumann Initiative of European Affairs, where history, law and governance come together to contextualize and discuss past, present and future issues of European identity and integration, Prof. Harmsen also gave a few examples of the award-winning Master student theses in political science of the past years.

Speaking on behalf of former Prime Minister and president of the foundation Jacques Santer, Simone Beissel, the foundation’s vice-president, and member of Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies, concluded the ceremony by applauding the decision to formalise the agreement. Ms. Beissel underlined the general lack of knowledge of European governance among all members of the population, including young people and commended the University for its efforts to educate and inform. Lastly, Ms. Beissel remarked that the many European governance and law-focused Master programmes at the University “create a network of young people who understand the issues facing the European Union.”

The agreement was then formally signed by Ms. Beissel, Prof. Ligeti and Prof. Harmsen and all participants were invited to a celebratory cocktail hosted by the FDEF.

More information about the Fondation du Mérite Européen can be found on their website.

Fonte/Source: https://wwwfr.uni.lu/index.php/fdef/actualites/la_foundation_du_merite_europeen_and_uni_lu_formalise_partnership