Postgraduate Research Grants on European Public Finances
2010.04.29.The European Court of Auditors, in cooperation with the European University Institute (the Historical Archives of the European Union), has created a programme of grants, each worth 5,000 Euro, for researchers engaged in research on European public finances, the historical development of the "external control" function in the EU context and the impact of EU finances on various areas of European society and culture.
The intention is to award two grants during the year.
- Objectives
- Admission
- Application Procedures and Deadline
- Grant Awards
- Selection and Notification
- Publications and Commitments
- Secretariat
- Selection Committee
These grants are to enable researchers with an interest in EU public finances to broaden their research by studying the Historical Archives of the European Union to which the Court has entrusted its own historical archives, and the archives of the Audit Board (1958-1977).
Through the programme, the Court wishes to make it easier for researchers to access and consult the collections available at the Institute in Florence.
The following are eligible to apply:
- All current postgraduate students (Master’s and Doctoral candidates)
- All postdoctoral researchers or university professors who have completed a master’s degree or doctorate in the past five years (from completion of the degree to the date the application is submitted) and who currently hold an academic appointment.
Applicants should be preparing a thesis, dissertation, or scholarly article relating to EU public finances, in one or more of the disciplines of human and social sciences (e.g. history, economics, political sciences, law or public administration).
Research projects presented by postgraduate students or postdoctoral researchers should preferably be directly related to their doctoral or master’s field of research.
Given the nature of the files concerned, candidates should have a sound knowledge of English and French. Knowledge of other EU languages would be an advantage.
Only individual applications will be considered for the programme.
Candidates are not allowed to submit their application with the same research subject on more than two occasions.
These eligibility criteria will be strictly applied.
Application Procedures and Deadline
Applications must be sent or postmarked (respectively by e-mail or post) to the Academic Service of the European University Institute by 28 May 2010 at the latest. Confirmation that an application has been accepted will be sent by e-mail one week after it is received.
Application form, English version
Applications and all supporting documentation must be submitted in either English or French. (Naturally, the research itself and subsequent publications may be in any of the official languages of the European Union.) The application file should include only the information required (see below).
Official application forms are available on the European University Institute's website.
Completed application files should include:
- A detailed presentation of the research proposal, including a description of the research subject, its academic significance and its impact on research in the field, previous academic work performed in the field of study, the methodology to be applied, and the schedule for the project (five pages maximum);
- A detailed and annotated bibliography of sources and studies related to the research (five pages maximum);
- Justification of the need to use the European Court of Auditors' archives in Florence;
- A statement of the applicant’s plans for scholarly publication of the research results;
- A list of the applicant’s previous publications (no more than 10, including the most recent);
- A letter of recommendation from a professor of a university or university-level research institute, providing an evaluation of the scholarly significance of the project and an assessment of the candidate’s training, abilities, and motivation for the research proposed. This letter must be written on institutional notepaper and included in the applicant's dossier.
Successful applicants will receive a research grant of 5,000 € to cover all research expenses, including:
- transport for one round trip between the grant holder’s permanent residence and Florence;
- accommodation in Florence for the duration of the grant holder's use of the archives.
The grant is paid in two instalments:
- a first instalment of 3,000 € at the start of the research, as attested by the Director of the Historical Archives of the European Union;
- a second instalment of 2,000 € after an essay on the grant holder’s research subject has been submitted to the Selection Committee.
The Selection Committee is composed of current or former officials of the European Court of Auditors, renowned experts in the field of public finances and audit, and the Director of the Historical Archives of the European Union.
Decisions are based upon the quality of the application file, the significance and originality of the proposed research, the feasibility of the project, the candidate’s ability to carry out the research satisfactorily, as well as the need to come to the Archives in Florence to consult the European Court of Auditors' archives.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by the end of June 2010.
Grant holders will undertake to ensure that all subsequent publications or productions, using in whole or in part the results obtained under the auspices of the research grant, will appropriately acknowledge the Postgraduate Research Grant Programme.
In addition, they will provide the Historical Archives of the European Union with at least five copies of any such publications or productions.
Upon completing their stay, grant holders will submit to the Selection Committee an essay on their research subject.
Applications and any related correspondence should be sent to:
The European University Institute
Academic Service
Badia Fiesolana
Via dei Roccettini 9
50014, San Domenico di Fiesole
Italia
Email: applyauditcourt@eui.eu
Tel. +39 055 4685 373 or 379
Fax +39 055 4685 444
For more information about the institutional profile and activities of the European Court of Auditors consult the Court's website: www.eca.europa.eu
Jean-Jack Beurotte, former Director at the European Court of Auditors (Chairman of the Selection Committee)
Jean-Marie Palayret, Director of the Historical Archives of the European Union and Associate Professor of the History of European Integration and EEC-ACP Relations at the "Institut des hautes études européennes de Strasbourg" (Robert Schuman University)
Carlo degli Abbati, former official of the European Court of Auditors, and currently responsible for the Jean Monnet "History of European Integration" course at the University of Genoa.