United Nations University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies

Informations générales

UNU is a global network of institutes and programmes engaged in research and capacity development to support the universal goals of the UN. It brings together leading scholars from around the world with a view to generate strong and innovative knowledge on how to tackle pressing global problems.

UNU-CRIS focuses on the study of processes of regional integration and cooperation and their implications. It acts as a resource for the UN system, with particular links to the UN bodies dealing with regional integration, and works in partnership with institutes and initiatives throughout the world that are concerned with issues of integration and cooperation.

The overall principles and policies guiding the UNU system are established by the UNU Council. On top of that, UNU-CRIS research and capacity-building activities are informed by the advice of its Advisory Committee, composed of distinguished personalities from different regions of the world. The overall responsibility for the research and management of the Institute is entrusted by the Director of UNU-CRIS. Research is conducted by the permanent academic personnel and by non-resident associate research fellows.

UNU-CRIS is based in Bruges (Belgium) at the premises of the Grootseminarie. It receives its core funding from the Flemish Government and collaborates with the College of Europe (Bruges) as a result of a Memorandum of Understanding, instituting their institutional collaboration. UNU-CRIS is further supported by the Province of West-Flanders. As a UN Agency, UNU-CRIS is also a member of the UN Team in Belgium.