1) The Jean Monnet Programme is designed to increase knowledge and awareness about European integration by promoting teaching, research and debate on European Union matters (including the EU’s relations with other regions in the world and the dialogue between peoples and cultures). Since 2007, the Jean Monnet Programme is integrated in the broader Lifelong Learning Programme (that also includes such education programmes as Erasmus and Leonardo).

2) The Jean Monnet Programme is aimed exclusively at higher education institutions (university-level institutions). Such establishments must be formally recognised in their country of origin before they can participate.

3) Since 2001, the Jean Monnet Programme operates on a world-wide basis. The network is currently active in 61 countries on the five continents. Universities from all countries in the world are eligible and encouraged to apply for Jean Monnet projects.

4) The selection of Jean Monnet projects works via an annual call for proposals. The call is managed, on behalf of the European Commission by the "Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency". The 2009 call has just been launched (with deadline for applications on 13 February 2009, for projects that can start at the earliest in September 2009).

5) Via the call for proposals, higher education institutions can apply for support for the following sub-actions:

· Jean Monnet European Modules are short courses on European integration (including the EU’s relations with other parts of the world) of minimum 30 teaching hours per academic year. Modules may be pluridisciplinary in approach (max grant over 5 years: 21.000€)

· Jean Monnet Chairs are teaching posts with a specialisation in European integration studies. Jean Monnet Chairholders teach a minimum of 120 hours per academic year in the field of European integration studies (max grant over 5 years: 45.000€).

· "Ad personam" Jean Monnet Chairs constitute awards reserved for (i) distinguished professors who deliver evidence of a high-level international teaching and publication record (that was achieved, at least in part, outside their country of residence) and/or (ii) professors with a distinguished background as former high-level practitioners in the field of European integration (max grant over 5 years: 45.000€)

· Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence are a clearly labelled pluridisciplinary structures pooling scientific, human and documentary resources for European integration studies and research within one or more universities. Each Centre must work under the direction of a Jean Monnet Chair (max grant over 5 years: 75.000€).

· Support for associations of professors and researchers specializing in European integration addresses associations whose explicit purpose is to contribute to the study of the European integration process and whose aim is to enhance the visibility of regional or national scientific and physical resources in this domain (max grant over 5 years: 24.000€).

· Support for information and research activities relating to European integration aims to promote discussion, reflection and knowledge about the European integration process via conferences, seminars, roundtables and summer schools (max grant over 1 year: 50.000€).

· Jean Monnet Multilateral Research Groups are partnerships between at least three Jean Monnet Chairs from three different countries leading to the creation of an integrated academic network with a joint research plan and pluridisciplinary synergies in the field of European integration studies (max grant over 2 years: 100.000€).

6)  Applications are submitted directly by the applying institution to the “Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency” on the standard application forms. They do not transit via government departments, permanent representations or other formal channels. Applications must be submitted on the official application forms.

7)  The Jean Monnet selection is centralised in Brussels to ensure full coherence in the application of the award criteria to applications from any country. The selection is based on a rigorous peer review system: independent academic experts (university professors) perform an assessment of the academic quality of each application. Only the academic quality of the project determines the outcome of the selection. Political pressure plays no role in the selection. In consequence, it is impossible for the European Commission to guarantee the positive outcome of an application. We can only stimulate institutions to submit high-quality applications.

8)  In practice, for countries/institutions that do not yet have many teaching activities in the field of European integration, applying for Jean Monnet European Modules is the most logical manner to "enter" the Jean Monnet framework. An application for a Module requires an excellent teaching project (course outline) and a good academic CV from the lecturer. Applications for Jean Monnet Chairs and Centres of Excellence are more complex. Of course, universities are entirely free to apply for the type of project they want.

9)  The amount of Commission co-financing (financial support) for Jean Monnet teaching projects is largely symbolic. What counts is the prestige and recognition that the university derives from the Jean Monnet quality label as well as the academic networking activities that take place in the Jean Monnet community.

10) Obviously, Jean Monnet professors enjoy the full academic freedom to criticize EU-actions. Their educational activities should help to foster well-informed discussion on the EU’s role and evolution.

For further information on the 2009 Jean Monnet call, see:

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/llp/ajm/2009/index_en.htm