Based at the University of South Wales, under the coordination of Prof. Dr. Christian Kaunert, EUCTER Jean Monnet Research Network provides research-led excellence in teaching and learning at the intersection of two fundamental areas of EU policy – the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (formerly known as Justice and Home Affairs) and EU counter-terrorism policy and law (also within the CFSP, notably in relation to counter-terrorist financing) – through an international cross-section of doctoral, post-graduate and graduate students. The objective is pursued by advancing cutting-edge blended learning formats, distance-learning, strong inter-disciplinarity, policy relevance. The project brings together three inter-related teaching and research areas: EU justice and home affairs, EU counter-terrorism and EU external relations. While the EU has progressively become an actor in international security in its own right thanks to its increased powers in the field of external relations (i.e. trade policies), the Lisbon Treaty has also underlined the need for more increased cooperation in the field of EU counter-terrorism.

Focusing and analysing on EU counter-terrorism cooperation and diplomacy is the objective of EUCTER. The project aims to discover and explain if and why EU counter-terrorism cooperation, as well as external relations (i.e. CFSP/CSDP, human rights, legal dimensions, etc.) have added to an increased relevance, and if and why diplomacy can add to the counter-terrorism tool set in the EU’s cooperation with third partners via its own delegations at the bilateral and multilateral levels.

EUCTER’s impact will be substantial: it will increase the public awareness of EU counter-terrorism cooperation and diplomacy via its website and publications in both journals and international books series. Moreover, it will enable young researchers to conduct their research and education in this previously under-researched field of EU action through scholarships for outreach events (i.e. their participation to the public debate via workshops, roundtables and conferences).

The objectives of EUCTER include the exploration and analysis of the development and practice of counter-terrorism cooperation and diplomacy in EU internal and external actions. It aims to contribute to a new understanding of the role of European institutions (EP, Commission, Council) in EU internal and external action by organising workshops and by providing subsidies for young international scholars (advanced Ph.D. candidates and post-docs), by generating a website-generated virtual map of counter-terrorism cooperation (including fact sheets on the structure and practice of counter-terrorism cooperation and diplomacy), by organising teaching modules and events (such as organising roundtables, training courses and lecture series, always foreseeing the interaction of young and senior academics and practitioners), and by contributing to international publications (books, working paper series, special issues).

EUCTER’s impact will be substantial: it will increase the public awareness of EU counter-terrorism cooperation and diplomacy via its website and publications in both journals and international books series. Moreover, it will enable young researchers to conduct their research and education in this previously under-researched field of EU action through scholarships for outreach events (i.e. their participation to the public debate via workshops, roundtables and conferences).

The aims of EUCTER are fourfold. First, to ensure students positively benefit from high-quality research-based, comprehensively multi-disciplinary teaching and make them enthusiastic about the European Union. Second, to provide a foundation by which academics and students alike are beneficially influenced via a series of cutting-edge innovative blended learning/distance learning formats on a range of multi-disciplinary themes related to EU Justice and Home Affairs. Third, to offer a series of outputs by which a wide cross-section of motivated members of civil society can be viably informed of the rich variety of contemporary EU developments. Fourth, to reinforce the various Jean Monnet objectives.

The objectives of these inter-linked activities are first, to viably expand upon the ICPS’ original status. This objective underwrites both the first and second aim of offering high-quality, research-based output offered in purely online formats, or through blended learning. The second objective goes to the heart of the research-led teaching and academic services of the ICPS, namely to offer regular, interactive and contemporary debating activities on key EU themes like EU counter-terrorism.

Throughout the project, EUCTER will focus on four dimensions in all is research, teaching and other dissemination activities :

1. Conceptualisation of EU counter-terrorism cooperation and diplomacy in the light of EU external action (i.e. CFSP/CSDP, human rights, legal dimension, etc.).
2. Empirical analysis of EU counter-terrorism cooperation and diplomacy.
3. Comparative analysis of counter-terrorism cooperation and diplomacy in the EU and other countries and international organizations (i.e. US, Canada, Israel, African Union, NATO, WEU, etc.)
4. Policy Recommendations and outlook (opportunities and challenges of counter-terrorism cooperation and diplomacy in the EU and beyond, i.e. United Nations)

• EUCTER strongly contributes to the excellence in teaching and research in EU studies as the network is composed of academics with outstanding research and teaching records in the field. The interdisciplinary and international nature of the team will strongly contribute to the strengths, scope and policy relevance of the research.
• EUCTER will foster the dialogue between the academic world and policy making. This will be made possible through the workshops that will be organized during the three years of the implementation of the project.
• EUCTER is being constructed as both a cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary project. It focuses, in fact, on two different aspects of EU counter-terrorism cooperation as well as international diplomacy. Focusing on these two various sectors will enable the network to build up a comprehensive understanding of the new roles of the European Union in the post-Lisbon era