European Investment Bank co-finances second Chair of Mediterranean Studies
The European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Union (EU) long-term lending institution, is to co-finance the second Chair of Mediterranean Studies at the European University Institute (EUI) of Fiesole (Florence, Italy). The grant will be corresponded between 1999 and 2002. Compagnia San Paolo di Torino and other Italian banking foundations will also support the EIB Chair. The Chair will be devoted to research and teaching in finance and development economics with particular focus on the Mediterranean basin. It will thus complement the scope - law and political science - of the first Mediterranean Chair, which was inaugurated in January and which is funded by ENI, Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze and Mediocredito Centrale, all EIB borrowers. The EUI's "Mediterranean Project" aims to make the EUI a gathering point for all research on Mediterranean themes at an EU level. Professors from universities of the Southern Mediterranean will give seminars in Fiesole, aiming to establish sound links between the EUI and the most prestigious research centres of the Mediterranean countries. The EUI currently hosts about 450 research students, mainly from the EU Member States, and 30 post-doctoral "Jean-Monnet Fellows", sponsored by the European Commission. The teaching staff at present numbers some 45 professors from all over Europe. Under its November 1997 Amsterdam Special Action Programme (ASAP), the EIB has approved loans totalling 3 billion euro in favour of innovative projects in the education and health sectors incorporating significant investment in human capital.
Countries
Italy