Teaching EU in a Geo-political World
EUinGeoPolitics
Addressing the urgent need of the EU to face the growing geo-political and geo-strategic shifts of international relations.
Since 2019
President von der Leyen, in her first Commission, has declared to build a geo-political European Commission. Despite the interruption by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts to equip the EU with the necessary muscles as an international actor in geopolitics have been made.
Global Gateway Strategy (2021)
Indo-Pacific Strategy (2021)
European Economic Security Strategy (2023)
EU Anti-Coercion Instrument (2023)
European Critical Raw Material Act (2024)
The Challenge of Perception
An economic giant
A political dwarf
A military worm
However, this age-old image, together with the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, has hindered recognition of the EU’s role as a geo-political actor.
Project Impact in China
EUinGeoPolitics helps the EU to boost its geo-political profile in China, which is:
1) A central player in the current international politics amid the China-US competition.
2) One of the EU’s top two trade partners.
3) One of the ten countries that are EU’s strategic partners.
Methodology & Activities
6 Courses
Teaches university students in China about EU politics and geo-politics systematically.
1 Research
Trains early-stage Chinese researchers to analyse geo-strategic actions of the EU.
4 Public Activities
Informs Chinese general public and netizens about geo-political issues in EU integration.
Core Arguments
Geo-politics has returned to Europe since the rising China-US competition and outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Challenges proliferate as a new tariff war has been instigated by Trump’s second US presidency, followed by a new wave of countries withdrawing from international institutions after the US’ re-exit from the Paris Climate Agreement.
The EU has developed policies like the European Economic Security Strategy and ReArm Europe plan.
"Partners including China should understand the EU and its policies in geo-political terms instead of in pure economic or legal terms."
The Multilateral Order
EUinGeoPolitics believes that having the EU as an alternative world power apart from China and the US would be beneficial not only to the Union itself, but also to a multilateral world order and to China.
The Beijing government has repeatedly expressed expectation to see the EU as one pole in a multi-polar world and cooperate with it.
Innovation: A Europe Fit for the Digital Age
In a growing geo-political world, President von der Leyen has repeatedly warned about the threat of disinformation and misinformation. Such risks are also observed by EUinGeoPolitics, which then adds an innovative part to it to locate and remove disinformation and misinformation on the EU in China. This part incorporates learning and application of new technology like AI, and hence, supports the Commission’s “A Europe Fit for the Digital Age” priority.
This 36-month Jean Monnet Chair project is two-fold and comprises six courses and five activities.
Co-funded by the European Union
2025 - 2026
2028 - 2027
2025 - 202
Teaching
Activities
1) European Union on Dining Table
2) Introduction to European Union
3) International Economy
4) Politics in European Integration
5) Political systems in Greece and EU
6) Research Methods in European Studies
Research on Disinformation
Website; Newsletters
Drawing contest
JM Chair seminar