This bid's aim is to broaden the range of EU-related activities at the University of Edinburgh: encourage multi- and interdisciplinary research; enhance academic-practitioner exchanges on EU topics, enhance the educational environmental for PhD and other students working on the EU and inform civil society of the EU. To this end we would organise a range of activities to be funded in part by the Centre of Excellence: 1) annual conferences; 2) PhD workshops; 3) academic workshops; 4) visiting fellowships; 5) roundtable debates; 6) secondary student conferences. The conferences and workshops would result in high quality academic publications (journal special editions and/or edited volumes). Papers, audio and video pod-casts would be posted on-line (subject to speaker agreement). The impact would be improved understanding of the EU; the creation of research and publication opportunities on the EU; the creation of multi- and interdisciplinary research synergies; development of links between academics, students and practitioners; enhanced educational environment for students working on EU topics; and encouraged public engagement in EU topics and studies.