Though the question of how the European Union can ensure the security of its citizens and contribute to worldwide peace has be-come increasingly relevant, foreign and security policies in Europe are still widely considered as national responsibilities. The research and training programme “European Foreign and Security Policy Studies” aims at overcoming this gap by analysing and debating the preconditions and prospects of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) of the EU and the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). The programme has been jointly developed by the foundations Compagnia di San Paolo, Turin/Italy, Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, Stockholm/Sweden, and VolkswagenStiftung, Hanover/Germany. The previous three rounds of applications in 2004 to 2006 resulted in a total of 70 grants. We envision that 20 to 25 new project proposals will be selected at the end of this fourth and final round.

With their joint initiative the three foundations want to strengthen the European dimension in the next generation of intellectual leaders and security experts. The dominance of national approaches to international security in large parts of the academic debate and day-to-day politics should recede in favour of a transnational perspective. Therefore international mobility of participants is an important objective of the initiative. The research and training programme will give European researchers and young professionals opportunities to con-duct research at two or more European institutions, and to build networks, thereby making an impact on the wider debate in the field of foreign and security policies. Within this thematic framework applicants can freely choose their research topics.

Funding possibilities
Eligible for funding are post doctoral researchers and Ph. D. candidates. Young professionals (e. g. civil servants, diplomats, journalists, lawyers, and employees of non-governmental organisations) with equivalent background are also invited to apply. Applicants should be based in Europe and not be older than 32 years. Specific disciplines, nationality or EU citizenship do not form criteria for exclusion in the selection process. Please note that the three foundations accept only individual applications.

Submission and processing of applications
All applications will be dealt with jointly by the three foundations.
In order to be included in the final round, applications together with the information listed in the attached “check-list” must be submitted (by e-mail only) by 30 September 2007 (date of arrival).

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