New Research Grant for Young Scholars from Central and Eastern Europe

Thanks to an agreement between the International Visegrad Fund and the European University Institute, young scholars from Central and Eastern Europe researching European integration have a new opportunity at the Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU).

On February 10, 2021 Ambassador Edit Szilágyiné Bátorfi, Executive Director of the International Visegrad Fund and Professor Renaud Dehousse, President of the European University Institute, signed an agreement establishing the IVF’s postgraduate research grant programme on European integration.

Under the scheme, young scholars from the IVF’s member states, the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership region may apply to conduct research at the HAEU, where the archival memory of European integration is preserved.

Up to ten postgraduate grants will be funded over the period 2021 and 2022. To the extent that travel to Florence is permitted under current pandemic measures, grant recipients will be allowed to carry out their research on-site, benefiting also from the international scholarly community of the EUI. However, the HAEU shall offer the digitization of archival files needed by researchers on demand, thus ensuring operational continuity of the grant programme.

This first formal agreement between the two institutions marks an important milestone in the relationship between the EUI and the IVF.

“I am delighted to sign this agreement with the International Visegrad Fund”—says President Dehousse—”Welcoming more young academics from Central Europe and neighbouring countries to the EUI to study the history of European integration represents a fantastic opportunity for the Institute to achieve one of its key priorities: building closer links with scientific communities in these countries. While conducting research at the Historical Archives of the European Union, these scholars will enrich and diversify the EUI’s research community.”

“We strongly believe our funding will offer the opportunity not only to V4 scholars but also to scholars and researchers who are citizens of the non-EU members states in the neighbourhood. As both the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkan regions are long-term priority targets for our grant and scholarship funding, this cooperation with EUI only complements our long-term efforts and is in full synergy with it,” says Amb. Bátorfi.

A link providing application information and eligibility requirement for the new postgraduate fellowships may be found here.