Thanks to its geographical localization, near of the Pyrenean Border, The IEC and more specifically its delegation in Perpignan maintains close relations with the Working Community of the Pyrenees i.e CTP, The Euroregion Pyrenees Mediterranean, The Land of Art and History “ Les Vallées du Tech et du Ter” and The Andorran Organization of Cross-Border Cooperation.

In addition to that, it works closely with several other university and research institutions: Institute of Andorrans Studies (IEA), Franco-Catalan Cross-Border Institute (IFCT), brings together within the The House of Catalan Countries (Casa dels Països Catalans) several entities concerned with the teaching and promotion of the Catalan, for instance:  Catalan Teaching School (APLEC), Catalan Summer School (UCE), Training Association for the Catalan Cross-Border Area (AFECT).

A close link exists with the Research Centre on Mediterranean Societies and Environments laboratory (CRESEM) of the University of Perpignan, regarding European programmes and research.

Research / Applied research

• Cross-border cooperation project POCTEFA 2014-2020, CATCAR

CATCAR is an innovative cross-border cooperation project in the field of intangible heritage. The aim of this program is to make the Carolingian world (8th-10th centuries) accessible to all thanks to new technologies: multimedia content, digital mapping, and other artefacts of augmented reality. CATCAR will create an open access virtual platform and other digital innovation products that will recreate the society and landscape of Carolingian Catalonia. This historical period heralded the construction of the current European Union.

Catalonia has one of the richest documentary collections in Europe for this period. CATCAR will create an open access virtual platform and other digital innovation products that will recreate the society and landscape of Carolingian Catalonia

Consulting / Studies

• Jean Monnet Project 2020-2022 Small-States and EU relationships

The project « Small States and the European Union: between association, affirmation and supremacy?

(PETUE) project aims at exchanging experiences and debates on the existing asymmetrical relations between the EU and Small States. The aim is to promote a better understanding of the relationship between Small States and the EU, based on citizen participation, researchers and experts. The interest of such a project is to examine the type of relations maintained by Small States with the EU as well as with their neighbouring States. This project consists of three seminars and surveys in Small States, a round-table meeting and a final conference.

Conferences

• Conferences upon the European Micro-States : diplomacy and cooperation, 2018-19

Series of conferences organized in Barcelona with the IEC delegation of Perpignan and Sciences Po of Strasbourg.

Inheritances of medieval principalities, tax havens or Papal States, how does their existence fit in with the necessary cooperation with their big neighbouring states?  What is their role in the construction of Europe?

• Co-organization of “Cross-Borders Master-Class” since 2012. It gathers one hundreds of students or so, every year, coming from all around Europe.

The Master class « Trans/Borders and Dialogue of Disciplines », European Territorial Cooperation, Territorial Diplomacy and Euro-Mediterranean Dialogue, is an academic network for training and professionalization of students with a high level of qualification. This work on the professional and human challenges of the new generations is based on a dialogue of disciplines including ethics and intergenerational issues, through a flipped classroom focused on students engagement and active learning, and place the students at the center of this project, which lead them to collaborate in active discussions, or carry out research with the guidance of a mentor . This year 2020, the theme of this 8th edition focused on the two shores of the Mediterranean.

Publications

• Jean Monnet Project 2020-2022 Small-States and EU relationships

The project « Small States and the European Union: between association, affirmation and supremacy?

(PETUE) project aims at exchanging experiences and debates on the existing asymmetrical relations between the EU and Small States. The aim is to promote a better understanding of the relationship between Small States and the EU, based on citizen participation, researchers and experts. The interest of such a project is to examine edition looks into both the diplomatic relations maintained by micro-states around the world and their relations with European organisations. What is their role in the construction of Europe? Why do they apply for membership of the Council of Europe but, for the most part, do not join the EU? What is their strategy to safeguard their integrity?  How is the diplomacy of these micro-states developing? What roles do they play on the European and international scene? In this special edition, a focus is set on Malta, Monaco, the Vatican City, San Marino, Andorra, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg.