Objectives and activities of CETRO

The Jean Monnet Centre for Europeanisation and Transnational Regulations at the University of Oldenburg (CETRO) focuses on the Europeanisation of national societies via the transnational regulation of social, labour and economic relations within the European Union (EU). Exploiting the advantages of the interdisciplinary composition of our research centre, we will focus on two substantive and one procedural issue: We will analyse

• the impact of the EU and European economic policies (especially the common market, the monetary union and the liberalisation of public services) on national economies in Europe,

• the corresponding (trans-)formation of the European social model and its crucial institutional pillars, the national welfare policies, labour law, collective bargaining systems and other labour market regulations, and

• the interaction and mutual reinforcement of different forms of governance (joint regulation by common legal rules, mutual recognition of national regulations, private regulation in transnational networks, “negative integration” via economic externalities, redistribution and “softer”, more participative forms of policy coordination).
  

Our emphasis on the links between economic, social and regulatory aspects is motivated by the current situation of the EU which is characterised by an asymmetry between the economic and the socio-political dimensions of transnational integration: faced with a growing scepticism towards further Europeanisation and globalisation, the EU has to take into account the social implications of European integration and in particular its impact on national welfare systems, labour law and collective bargaining relations.

The focus on economic, social and regulatory aspects of European integration will be translated into different activities exploiting our multi-disciplinary resources and interests in research, teaching and communication in the framework of a specific institution, the Center for Europeanisation and Transnational Regulations Oldenburg.

1. At first, we will continue and strengthen the academic exchange and interdisciplinary research activities under the umbrella of the CETRO.
2. On this basis we will organise international conferences, lecture series and workshops. The academic results of these activities will be published in academic journals and books, and in an online working paper series.
3. In the field of teaching, we propose to create a structured interdisciplinary postgraduate programme and summer schools and project-based forms of teaching in the field of European studies.
4. The openness to civil society, a crucial objective of the CETRO, will be achieved through interdisciplinary lectures, public round table debates and conferences on the legal, economic and social dimensions of Europe and a regular dialogue with regional social partners and institutions.