EUSI -EU Studies institute-

Message

Prof. Eiji OGAWA
Chairperson of
Governing Board, EUSI
Vice President, Hitotsubashi University

The EU Study Institute in Tokyo (EUSI), sponsored by the European Commission, is a consortium comprising Hitotsubashi University, Tsuda College and Keio University, formed to manage three EU-related activities: education, research and outreach. EUSI, established on April 1, 2009, has addressed a variety of practical activities in these three categories. All these activities have been highly appreciated, and we would like to continue to step up operations in the future.
EU research includes not only regional research on Europe but also studies on political integration and economic and monetary union in the EU. There are advantages to European integration with respect to the aspects of politics, economy and currency; on the other hand, there are also various challenges. It is necessary to deal with these problems from not only one academic discipline but an interdisciplinary perspective. It is also required to use the fruits of research to educate and to broadcast information via outreach activities. These are the goals EUSI pursues.
A look around the world shows the movement following the integration of the EU. In the Asia-Pacific region as well, economic integration in particular has proceeded on the private-sector level. After the Asian currency crisis, there have also been movements in areas such as regional currency cooperation. When integration is discussed in the Asia-Pacific region, the experience of the EU is extremely useful. Therefore, a number of EU centres financially supported by the European Commission have been established in the Asia-Pacific region. EUSI aims to be an important hub of EU research at the region in cooperation with other EU centres there.
We look forward to your understanding and support.

Prof.
Kyoji KAWASAKI
Director of EUSI,
Hitotsubashi University

The EU Studies Institute in Tokyo (EUSI), which was formally launched on 1 April 2009 after a period of preparation beginning in December 2008, is now entering its third year. EUSI, sponsored by the European Commission for a four-and-a-half-year period, was established as a consortium comprising Hitotsubashi University, Tsuda College and Keio University. As a centre for academic education and research, it aims to promote outreach activities and to strengthen Japan-EU relations.
During this time, there have been various developments in the EU, such as Estonia joining the Euro zone and the Lisbon treaty going into effect. EUSI has convened symposiums on such topics as the measures taken the EU to address the financial crisis, the expansion of the EU to the east and the role of the EU and Japan in international standardization. EUSI has also sent graduate students to Europe under scholarships and internships, and has worked to expand EU-related lectures at each university.
EUSI continues to assist three activities: improving EU-related education programmes, both in quantity and quality, to get young people more interested in the EU; developing EU studies in a variety of research fields; and promoting outreach activities to bring about broader awareness of accurate information on the EU among the public.
As a result of these activities, we hope that EUSI will contribute to the advancement of exchange and coordination between Japan and the EU and its member states. In addition, by strengthening partnerships with EUIJ-Kansai, EUIJ Waseda University, the newly founded EUIJ-Kyushu and the EU centres throughout the Asia-Pacific region, we aim to make active progress in academic education and research and in outreach activities in Japan on EU-related issues.
We thank you warmly for your assistance and cooperation with EUSI activities.