Comparative Regional Integration Studies (CRIS)

United Nations University, Belgium

Based in Bruges, the United Nations University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS) specializes in the processes and consequences of regional integration and cooperation. It acts as a resource for the UN system with particular links to the UN bodies dealing with regional integration and works in partnership with initiatives and centres throughout the world that are concerned with issues of integration and cooperation.

The United Nations University (UNU) is a global network engaged in research and capacity development to support the universal goals of the UN and generate new knowledge and ideas by providing a framework to bring together leading scholars from around the world to tackle pressing global problems. It comprises the UNU Centre in Tokyo and a world-wide network of institutes (such as UNU-CRIS) assisted by numerous associated and cooperating institutions. UNU functions as a decentralized 'network of networks' with a truly interdisciplinary and global perspective.

The UNU Council determines the overall principles and policies guiding the whole university. The Advisory Committee of UNU-CRIS, comprising well-known social scientists from different regions of the world, is entrusted by the UNU Council to advise on the research and training activities of UNU-CRIS. The Director of UNU-CRIS has overall responsibility for the research and management of the Institute, and implements the research programme within the policies and guidelines set out by the Advisory Committee and the Council.

Research is conducted by a Bruges-based resident academic staff and associated researchers. UNU-CRIS receives its core funding from the Flemish Government (Kingdom of Belgium). UNU and the Flemish Government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the College of Europe that arranges an institutional collaboration between UNU-CRIS and the College. UNU-CRIS collaborates with the College, Flemish universities and research institutes worldwide. The UNU-CRIS premises are located at Grootseminarie in Bruges, the former Abby of the Dunes with the support of the Province of West-Vlaanderen.

As a UN agency, UNU-CRIS is a member of the United Nations Team in Belgium.

Mission Statement

The mission of UNU-CRIS is to contribute towards achieving the universal goals of the UN and UNU through comparative and interdisciplinary research and training for better understanding of the processes and impact of intra- and inter-regional integration. The aim is to act as a think tank that generates policy-relevant knowledge about new forms of governance and cooperation, and to contribute to capacity building on issues of integration and cooperation particularly in developing countries. UNU-CRIS will work in partnership with initiatives and centres throughout the world that are concerned with issues of integration and cooperation and stimulate the sense of community between them.

In line with the overall UNU mission, UNU-CRIS’ research activities are aimed to contribute to policy-relevant knowledge about new forms of governance and cooperation. More specifically, the work of UNU-CRIS will continue to focus upon:

• Visioning how multi-level governance is being shaped


• Monitoring the implementation and impact of regional integration


• Deepening the critical understanding of regional integration as a process of social transformation and of the relations between micro- and macro-regionalisms


• Strengthening the governance capacities at local, national, regional and global levels for dealing with regional integration


• Assessing the actual and potential role of regions in the UN system

• Studying Regions and Regional Integration from a Comparative and Multi-Level Governance Perspective


• Monitoring and Assessing Regional Integration Worldwide


• Studying the Global-Regional Peace and Security Complex


• Assessing the Socio-Economic Dimensions of Regional Integration

www.cris.unu.edu

www.unu.edu