ITEM and Brussels Hub cooperation: workshop on 40 years of Schengen in times of border controls
The Maastricht University Brussels Hub plays a key role in positioning Maastricht University as the European University of the Netherlands. In addition to monitoring and steering the university's engagement with EU policy developments, the Brussels Hub also connects the Maastricht University community to the EU institutions and other organisations represented in Brussels.
A recent example of the Hub’s role in enhancing visibility, connections, and opportunities for the UM community took place on 24 November, when colleagues from ITEM organised a conference on 40 years of Schengen in times of border controls at the Brussels Hub.
With the advice and support of the Brussels Hub, the successful event demonstrated how having a Brussels-based team with experience in EU policy and communications translates into practical benefits for UM researchers. The Hub advised on programme co-design and outreach, allowing UM academics to concentrate fully on content and outcomes. In addition, the Hub’s extensive network helped identify and invite relevant speakers and stakeholders including European Union officials, academic institutions, umbrella organisations, and think tanks.
This event focused on presenting the results of ITEM-led studies on the cross-border impact of the reintroduction of border controls in the Schengen Area. These insights are not only relevant in the context of balancing security and freedom of movement, but also in the quest for advancing the completion of the Single Market as part of the EU's ambitious competitiveness agenda. You can find the impact assessments on the ITEM website and a recap of the event here.
In the video below, Martin Unfried (director of ITEM) and Pim Mertens (scientific coordinator at ITEM) explain why they chose the UM Brussels Hub as their venue and how the Hub team co-created the programme together with them. A practical example of synergies arising from UM's Europe strategy!
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