What values does the European Union represent in its foreign policy and from which sides are these values under attack? Academics from 20 partner universities on five continents are researching these questions in the Jean Monnet Network ValEUs. In order to make their findings known beyond academic circles, the network has made a free online course available to all interested parties. In addition, students publish practical and pointed short analyses as part of the network.
The research network's free online course "Values in European Union Foreign Policy" comprises 13 lessons in which the values of EU foreign policy are examined from various interdisciplinary and regional perspectives. Research findings on the EU's foreign policy challenges are conveyed, for example in the struggle for security while upholding human rights standards in migration policy or in developing an effective approach to counter challenges from right-wing populist forces. The lessons include videos, presentations, readings and an online exam, after which participants will receive a digital course certificate.
The course is aimed at anyone who wants to learn more about how values determine EU foreign policy and the controversies surrounding them. It is aimed at students from various academic disciplines as well as media professionals, political and development actors and other interested parties who deal with issues of democracy, human rights, solidarity, peace, justice, equality and prosperity within and outside the EU.
To register: https://mooc.valeus.eu/register
The Young Generation Policy Briefs of the ValEUs network offer particularly young perspectives on the EU's values-based foreign policy. In the first issues, students of the European Studies Master's program at the European University Viadrina write about Albania's migration policy, the EU's migration agreement with Tunisia and the rule of law in Serbia.
More about the idea of the Young Generation Policy Briefs in the Viadrina news portal
Further information on the ValEUs network
As an overarching research initiative under the leadership of the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), the project "ValEUs. Research & Education Network on Contestations to EU Foreign Policy" is dedicated to the current challenges facing the European Union and examines possible counter-strategies. The Jean Monnet Network has been funded by the EU Commission with 1.2 million euros for three years since January 2024 as part of the Erasmus+ funding program.
The project, which involves 20 partner institutions from 17 countries on five continents, examines the foreign policy of the European Union and its contested values. Professor Dr. Timm Beichelt, Viadrina Professor of European Studies and head of the network, emphasizes the importance of the task of examining whether the EU upholds the values it promises itself and others. Issues such as migration, asylum policy and the EU enlargement process are highlighted as possible areas of systematic deviation from established normative standards.