The Simone Veil Research Centre
for Contemporary European Studies
The Simone Veil Research Centre for Contemporary European Studies (formally the Centre for the Study of Politics and Society, CSEPS) was established in 2003 at the Ben Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), in order to promote a greater awareness within Israel, of the growing importance of Europe and of the European Union. Since its establishment, the Simone Veil Centre has strengthened its position as a leading European research and academic centre in Israel, through new initiatives and partnerships, both academic and institutional. On the institutional level, the European Commission recognized BGU and the Simone Veil Centre as a Jean Monnet National Centre of Excellence for European Studies, the highest academic ranking that the European Commission grants to any European study programme, and includes European co-financing. This is the only Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence in Israel and the recognition of the study programme is first and foremost a European recognition of the Simone Veil Centre's academic excellence.