A Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence aims to use the collective expertise of EU-studies experts to develop synergies between the various disciplines in European studies, and create joint transnational activities and structural links with academic institutions in other countries. It also ensures openness to civil society.

　Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence have a major role in reaching out to students from faculties that do not normally deal with European Union issues as well as to policy makers, civil servants, organised civil society and the general public.

　Kobe University has strengthened its expertise on EU matters during over ten years of activities as the consortium leader of the EU Institute in Japan, Kansai (EUIJ-Kansai) funded by the European Commission. In addition to this the University has promoted EU-Japan related education and research, including running the Programme for European Studies (KUPES) for several years.

　Kobe University was the only Japanese institution to be selected as a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, Strengthening the Academic Basis of EU Studies in Japan, Kobe(Agreement No. 2015-0860/057-001)） in 2015 September 1. It will focus on the following three core objectives for the next three years: 1) Teaching, 2) Research, and 3) Events.

『KUPES leaflet』

KUPES English leaflet　KUPES English leaflet 2016

KUPES English leaflet　KUPES English leaflet 2017

KUPES Japanese leaflet　KUPES Japanese leaflet 2016

KUPES Japanese leaflet　KUPES Japanese leaflet 2017

KUPES Japanese leaflet　KUPES Japanese leaflet 2018

『The EU in Turmoil』（published in February 2018, Keiso-shobo）

　The Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence at Kobe University is pleased to announce that on 25 February 2018 the book entitled "The EU in Turmoil" has been published thanks to the support of the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.

　This book consists of 11 Chapters written by researchers involved in the Jean Monnet COE programme (2015-2018) at Kobe University. Today's EU is examined from legal, political and economic perspectives and the book explores possibilities for the EU to overcome its current turmoil.