A more public-facing Institute
The early 2000s marked a period of heightened visibility for the EUI within the European public sphere — a place where political leaders and public figures engaged directly with the academic community. Visits by heads of state, prime ministers, senior EU officials and leading European scholars underscored the EUI’s European character.
Major events such as the Institute’s annual The State of the Union Conference, which ran for more than a decade, reflected a growing openness to civil society and a more public-facing identity, positioning the EUI as a site of exchange between academic reflection and contemporary European developments.
Degree Conferring Ceremony
Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio during his visit to the European University Institute on 30 September 2005. Photo: Centro Foto 2/ HAEU, EUI 2324_01.
Visit of the President of the Regional Council of Poitou-Charentes, Ségolène Royal
President of the Regional Council of Poitou-Charentes, Ségolène Royal signing the visitor's book of the EUI. Photo: Unknown/ HAEU, EUI 2334_17.
Felipe González's visit
Spanish president, Felipe González, and President of the EUI, Josep Borrell on the first of October 2010. Photo: Unknown/ HAEU, EUI 2356_09.
European Commission meeting and 25th anniversary of the European University Institute
The President of the European University Institute, Patrick Masterson, greeting the President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi. Behind them, the Secretary General, Gianfranco Varvesi 07 November 2001. Photo: Unknown/ HAEU, EUI 719_04.
Visit of President of the Italian Republic Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and President of the Republic of Austria Thomas Klestil
President of the European University Institute Yves Mény, President of the Republic of Austria Thomas Klestil, President of the Italian Republic Carlo Azeglio Ciamp and Secretary General, Gianfranco Varvesi during the conference on 26 September 2002. Photo: Andrea Ciapetti fotografo/ HAEU, EUI 670_12.
Visit by Charles, Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales greeting some students of the European University Institute on 5 November 2022. Photo: Unknown/ HAEU, EUI 710_08.
Visit of the Swiss Federal Councillor, Pascal Couchepin
Swiss Federal Councillor, Pascal Couchepin visiting the library on 25 June 2004. Photo: Centro Foto 2/ HAEU, EUI 2311_05.
Visit by Giorgio Napolitano
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, former president of France, during his speech on the occasion of the visit of the President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano. In the table from the left: Rainer Masera, Yves Mény and Aureliano Benedetti, 16 November 2006. Photo: Unknown/ HAEU, EUI 705_20.
Inauguration of the European Union Historical Archives at Villa Salviati
The President of the European University Institute, Yves Mény, with the President of Italia, Giorgio Napolitano, looking at the exhibition for the Inauguration of the European Union Historical Archives at Villa Salviati on 17 December 2009. Photo: Unknown/ HAEU, EUI 722_01.
Visit of Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt in the library of the EUI on 28 March 2010. Photo: Unknown/ HAEU, EUI 2354_10.
Visit of Princess Marie of Denmark to Badia Fiesolana
Marie of Denmark, Josep Borrell, Rainer Baubock, Umut Özkırımlı and Uffe Toudal Pedersen in a conference on the occasion of the Princess visit to the EUI on 02 February 2011. Photo: Unknown/ HAEU, EUI 2368_06.
Visit of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker to the European University Institute
Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker and the President of the EUI, Yves Mény and his wife in Badia Fiesolana on 26 June 2006. Photo: Unknown/ HAEU, EUI 2268_08.
Strengthening partnerships and international reach
Parallel to its growing public visibility, the EUI significantly expanded its institutional and academic collaborations during the 2000s. Relations with EU institutions, national governments, international organisations, universities and research institutions throughout Europe were deepened.
The launch of the Florence School of Regulation at the Robert Schuman Centre in 2004 marked the Institute’s first step into executive training activities. Its success provided a model for future programmes at the Schuman Centre and later the School of Transnational Governance, further embedding the Institute within European and global networks of dialogue and governance. The Institute thus evolved into a space where regulators, practitioners, policy-makers and academics could meet, exchange ideas and receive advanced training. In so doing, the EUI positioned itself not merely as a venue for policy debate but also as an active contributor to Europe’s institutional and intellectual development, and a conduit for greater European integration.
Meeting of High Council held on 07-08/07/2001
Meeting of the High Council of the European University Institute held at the Badia Fiesolana on 7 and 8 June 2001. Photo: Unknown / HAEU, EUI 421.
Visit of the Presidents of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies of the European Union
General view of the meeting of the Presidents of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies of the European Union on 22 March 2007. Photo: Unknown / HAEU, EUI 2336_10.
Festival d'Europa Conference at Palazzo Vecchio
View of the Festival d’Europa Conference at Palazzo Vecchio, held from 6 to 10 March 2011. Photo: Unknown / HAEU, EUI 2376_12.
XXII Jean Monnet Conference: speaker Giuliano Amato
The Prime Minister of Italy, Giuliano Amato, during his speech in the XXII Jean Monnet Conference on 20 November 2000. Photo: Unknown / HAEU, EUI 701_06.
European Commission meeting and 25th anniversary of the European University Institute
Group portrait of the President of the European University Institute, Patrick Masterson, former President of the European University Institute, Werner Maihofer, Secretary General, Gianfranco Varvesi, Prime Minister of Italy Giuliano Amato, and future President of the European University Institute Yves Mény, 07 November 2001. Photo: Unknown / HAEU, EUI 669_09.
XXV Jean Monnet Conference: speaker José M. D. Barroso
The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso, the President of the European University Institute, Yves Mény, the Representator of Malta to the EU Roberta Metsola, and others in a meeting, 2006. Photo: Unknown / HAEU, EUI 682_09.
XXIII Jean Monnet Conference: speaker Paavo Lipponen
The Prime Minister of Finland, Paavo Lipponen and the President of the European University Institute, Patrick Masterson in the XXIII Jean Monnet Conference on the topic "The future of the European Union after Nice" on 09 April 2001. Photo: Unknown / HAEU, EUI 696_04.
Visit by Giorgio Napolitano
Meeting held during Giorgio Napolitano's, President of Italy, visit, 16 November 2006. Photo: Unknown / HAEU, EUI 705_04.
Hubert Szlaszewski's visit
Hubert Szlaszewski, Pasquale Ferrara, Jef Schram, Jean-Marie Palayret in Badia Fiesolana, 08 November 2011. Photo: Unknown / HAEU, EUI 2389_02.
Festival d'Europa Conference at Palazzo Vecchio
Mateo Renzi and Josep Borrell, president of the EUI during his speech in the Conference Festival d'Europa at Palazzo Vecchio on the 11 February 2011. Photo: Unknown / HAEU, EUI 2389_02.
Participants in the School of Transnational Governance executive training ‘Learning from Conflicts: Approaches to Peace Building and the Role of Europe’ in Villa la Fonte, 13 -15 December 2017. Photo: Marco Benvenuti / HAEU.
Participants in the School of Transnational Governance executive training ‘Learning from Conflicts: Approaches to Peace Building and the Role of Europe’ in Villa la Fonte, 13 -15 December 2017. Photo: Marco Benvenuti / HAEU.
European Commission meeting and 25th anniversary of the European University Institute
Maria Romana Catti De Gasperi, Italian politician and Alcide De Gasperi daughter, and the President of the European University Institute, Patrick Masterson, signing a document in the ceremony of the 25th anniversary of the European University Institute, 7 November 2001. Photo: Unknown / HAEU, EUI 719_12.
Academic expansion and new community dynamics
During the 2000s, the EUI continued to expand its academic and training programmes, welcoming growing numbers of researchers and fellows. The Max Weber Programme for Postdoctoral Studies was launched in 2006 and further internationalised the EUI, bringing more than 50 early career scholars to the Institute from all over the world each year. The School of Transnational Governance commenced its executive training activities in 2017, and launched its master’s programme in 2020. Arrival days became larger community events, reflecting the increasing scale and diversity of the Institute. Graduation ceremonies also grew in scope, becoming key institutional moments celebrated in formal settings.
In parallel, community life flourished within the multicultural campus atmosphere, Social traditions — such as the national and theme parties in Bar Fiasco, arts festivals, the Coppa Pavone and the June Ball — became defining features of the EUI experience. They fostered a strong sense of belonging among researchers, professors, staff and visitors alike.
Expansion of the campus: works at Villa Salviati
The physical development of the Institute was another defining element of this period. The first years of the decade saw continued use and adaptation of the existing campus. The Italian government’s extensive renovation and restoration of the Villa Salviati complex was an immense infrastructural investment in the EUI, and a major turning point for the Institute.
The project culminated in December 2012 with the relocation of the Historical Archives of the European Union from Villa il Poggiolo to Villa Salviati. Its inauguration of 2009, attended by the President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano, symbolised the Institute’s long-term commitment to preserving and promoting Europe’s documentary heritage. Today, Villa Salviati is also home to the EUI’s Departments of Law and of History, the Academy of European Law and the Alcide De Gasperi Centre for Research on European Integration History.
The EUI fifty years on
Fifty years after its launch in the Badia Fiesolana, the European University Institute has grown in scale, visibility, academic achievement, and institutional breadth and depth. Its expanded and now global academic community, increased engagement with European political life, and strengthened campus infrastructure reflect a maturing institution aligned with the broader evolution of the European Union in the early twenty-first century.
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