Spring 2007 - European University Institute

Thirty Years of EUI—Changes in
Time or Time for a Change?
SPS 1978-81, SPS 1983-85, RSC 2006-07 | Thomas Grunert
After thirty years of existence the EUI is thriving. Has
it changed its character or vocation in that time? Has
it had an input in and an impact on European policies?
Does it justify tax-payers’ money, allocated by
the European Union, the Member States and, in particular
the host country Italy? In other words, can we
justify continuing to invest heavily in this ambitious,
but never very clearly defined, project, as it evolves
and expands—intellectually and logistically, now that
it is so firmly on its feet?
These are questions which come to the mind of a ‘firstgeneration
ricercatore’, who spent the early period of
the EUI (1978–1981), writing his PhD at the Institute
and as Research Fellow (198 –1985), and who is currently
revisiting his professional roots as a European
Parliament Fellow at the RSCAS.
When the EUI was founded in 197 there was no Fellowship
programme, Robert Schuman Centre, Max
Weber Programme, or Masters Programme. What did
exist was the Bar Fiasco, but without today’s films,
pool billiard competitions which provide the chance
to develop a ‘we feeling’ and a community spirit in
today’s less intimate institutional environment. There
were still monks in the Badia, some researchers lived
in situ, Padre Balducci was alive and we had the
chance to be a community.
What would I prefer: the scenario of 1978 or 007?
Probably a combination of both, which unfortunately
is impossible. In the initial period there were about
150 persons working at the EUI, approximately 100
‘ricercatori’, about 0 administrative staff and some
local agents, like Gastone who was ‘keeping the door’
and kept us in a good mood thanks to his human
qualities and his professionalism.
Gastone died last year, but the EUI survives him.
Has it changed its nature? Of course. In the 1970s we
were literally ‘one big family’ we all knew each other
and where we all worked together, partied together,
lunched together, and discussed research and personal
problems.
The number of people working at the EUI has increased
dramatically since then, and the atmosphere
has changed. There is a difference in social communication
with only a hundred people or close to a
thousand. There is a difference if you area all in one
building, the Badia Fiesolana, or split into several dif-
ferent workplaces. With no longer a single common
working place one cannot get to know everybody everywhere.
This is the price one pays for expansion and
professional and institutional success.
This view was confirmed when talking to some of the
EUI’s ‘dinosaurs’, those who received their ‘médaille
de fidelité’ in December, having served the EUI for
0 years. But the fact that they are still here proves it
is still worthwhile and a privilege, now perhaps even
more than 0 years ago, to work and study at the
EUI.
Academics, unlike boxers, do come back, especially
if the place merits it as the EUI certainly does. Veerle
Deckmyn, Bruno de Witte, Stefano Bartolini, Peter
Mair, Philip Schmitter and last but not least Yves Mény
are animating the academic life and administration
at the Badia in 007. All of them are, like me, now
some 0 years older, possibly somewhat wiser and,
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