Kyushu University: EU Centre “Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence-Kyushu, Second Stage Kick-off Symposium”
On Wednesday, 17 February 2021, the EU Centre organized the “Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence-Kyushu, Second Stage Kick-off Symposium” entitled “The Future of Brexit and EU Integration” as an online webinar.
Kyushu University EU Centre was first awarded and implemented “EU Institute in Japan, Kyushu (EUIJ-Kyushu)” (2011–2016) funded by the European Commission, and later “Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence-Kyushu (JMCoE-Q)” (2016–2019) funded by Erasmus+, which is the European Union’s funding scheme to support activities in the fields of Education, Training, Youth and Sport. Subsequently, we have been awarded Erasmus+ again and have started the activities of “Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence-Kyushu, Second Stage (JMCoE-Q2)” from 17 November 2020. For three years until 16 November 2023, we will carry out a wide range of activities in education, research, outreach, and academic exchange while contributing to the globalization efforts of Kyushu University through the further deepening and development of EU research and education.
As the first step of the activities of “Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence Kyushu, Second Stage (JMCoE-Q2)”, this kick-off symposium under the theme of Brexit, the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union, was held for the purposes of strengthening cooperation with regional EU-related organizations and international exchange organizations for future business development, and to return the benefits of EU research to the community in general.
At the end of 2020, approximately four and a half years after the United Kingdom decided to withdraw from the EU in a referendum, the country finally left the EU. Since the establishment of the EEC (European Economic Community) in 1958, the withdrawal of a member state was experienced for the first time in the history of European integration. The leading speakers on EU integration research and European economic research in Japan were invited. Multidimensional perspectives were provided on the implications for European integration, on the impact on the economies and industries of the EU and the UK, and on the challenges for Japanese-European business.