Archives - Centre for European Studies

New EU Policy Video Series: “Europe’s Energy Transformation: War, Geopolitics, Legacies, and New Dependencies” with Dr. Miranda Schreurs

IlijaNikolic3 — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:18:44 +0000

(Chair of Climate and Environmental Policy, Bavarian School of Public Policy at the ) explains how Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 reshaped Europe’s energy transition in this interview with Ilija Nikolic (Research Assistant, Centre for European Studies).

She discusses Europe’s rapid shift away from Russian energy and the most significant policy changes and the “policy entrepreneurs” who used the crisis to accelerate climate reforms at both the EU and national levels. Next, Dr. Schreurs examines Russia’s deepening energy ties with China to bypass sanctions and what that means for Europe’s growing dependence on China for clean-energy technologies and the critical minerals behind them.

Dr. Schreurs also compares Canada and Germany, including the roles of federalism and EU climate legislation, and offers ways to overcome “fossil fuel legacies” without sparking major backlash or disruption. The interview closes by discussing how rising geopolitical tensions and uncertainty in the transatlantic partnership are shaping energy policy in Europe and Canada.

The Centre for European Studies Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence at �Ӱ�ԭ�� University organized this interview as part of the EU Policy Video Series. The Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence activities are is co-funded with a grant from the and by �Ӱ�ԭ�� University.

Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or �Ӱ�ԭ�� University. Neither the European Union nor �Ӱ�ԭ�� University can be held responsible for them.

New EU Policy Brief: “European Defence in the Face of War” by Dr. Chantal Lavallée

cathleenschmidt — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 19:36:18 +0000

The newest in the EU Policy Brief Series, “European Defence in the Face of War”, is written by Dr. , Associate Professor at the Royal Military College Saint-Jean and Visiting Scholar at �Ӱ�ԭ�� University (2025-2026). She discusses the changing European Union (EU) defence strategy. Read the EU Policy Brief here.

In the years before the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022, Dr. Lavallée defines the recent challenges which led the EU to bring forward a new European defence strategy – Brexit, the United States’ diminishing support for Europe’s defence and the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022. The EU’s in 2022 set forth a goal of building European defence capabilities to protect the EU.

Dr. Lavallée’s shares her insights which draw upon the new presented by the European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in March 2025, which identifies capability requirements and proposes financial mechanisms to support Europe’s rearmament. She notes the signifigance of the White Paper in outlining two ‘roadmaps’ as strategies to address the occurrences of violations of European air space and the European defence industry preparing for modern warfare with drones and new disruptive technologies. Dr. Lavallée provides key findings and includes her insights on the policy implications.

The Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence publishes a series of policy briefs from experts and scholars which address prominent policy issues facing the EU-Canada relationship.

Read more in the EU Policy Briefs Series here.

The European Commission’s support for the production of these publications does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Jean Monnet activities are co-funded by the and by �Ӱ�ԭ�� University.

Call for Applications Now Open: Financial Support for Graduate Student Travel Research to European Union for Spring/Summer 2026

cathleenschmidt — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 21:41:06 +0000

The Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence call for applications for financial support for Graduate Student Travel Research to the European Union (EU) is now open! Doctoral and Master’s level students enrolled at �Ӱ�ԭ�� who are conducting research in the EU and on a topic related to the EU, European integration or EU-Canada relations are eligible to apply for Spring/Summer 2026.

The maximum amount of financial support which a graduate student may receive is $1200 to assist with partially covering travel and research expenses. Research must be conducted in the EU member states to be considered for financial support by the selection committee and can be combined with other activities such as a student study exchange, the EU Study Tour or a language course.

More details about the application and the materials to submit can be found here. The deadline to submit application materials is no later than Sunday, February 22, 2026.

Please note: Travel research financial support is conditional on the travel being permitted under the application of travel rules issued by �Ӱ�ԭ�� University, the Government of Canada and the government of the destination EU member state at the time of travel.

Read written reports by graduate students about their travel and research completed in previous years here.

Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence activities are co-funded by the and by �Ӱ�ԭ�� University.