Take a look at the news. Then take a look at the map, and try to find a place where peace prevails, human rights are respected, the legal system is independent, social protections exist, the environment is valued, academic freedom is safeguarded, and even top politicians are held accountable when they break the law. We are fortunate to live in such a place: the European Union.

Achievements: The EU isn't perfect—but we often forget just how much it has accomplished. Here are some of the Union’s most remarkable achievements:

• Peace. Once a continent torn apart by war, Europe has become a symbol of peace thanks to the EU. This historic transformation earned the Union the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012.

• Trade. The EU enables seamless trade between its member states, totaling €4.1 trillion in 2023 alone. This integration fuels prosperity across the region.

• Exchange. The EU connects people across borders. The Schengen Agreement and the common currency make travel simple, and Erasmus alone has allowed over 16 million people to study or work abroad.

Europe matters! The EU is made up of 27 member states—each small on its own, but powerful together. As a bloc, Europe can negotiate with Washington and Beijing as an equal.

Why you should care: Brexit was driven by misinformation, propaganda—and low voter turnout among young people. Had youth participation matched that of older generations, the UK would still be in the EU! Instead, a decision that shapes the future was made mostly by those with the least stake in it.

So, learn more about the EU. Check out our EU Week program! Europe is worth getting excited about.

As part of our EU Week in May, Kozminski University is offering a Blended Intensive Program (BIP) under the Erasmus+ Short-Term Mobility initiative. The program brings together international students to explore innovation in the EU, visit top companies in Poland, and engage in cross-cultural exchange.

We are delighted by the strong interest from TUM SoM students. Due to the high number of applications, we are unfortunately unable to accept further requests.

"New Energy in the New World" was an event aiming at emphasizing the role of the European Union and its impact on the environment.

The main speaker at the meeting was Dr. Michał Kurtyka, former Minister of Climate and Environment and former President of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change.

The honorable guest was Prof. Joachim Henkel, Vice-Dean for Research at TUM School of Management. 

Prof. Corine Defrance, französische Historikerin, hat sich in ihrer Forschung und Lehre auf die deutsche Geschichte und die deutsch-französischen Beziehungen nach 1945 spezialisiert. In Ihrem Vortrag am 17. Juni 2024 ging es um die etwa 20.000 Städtepartnerschaften, die es heute in Europa gibt. Diese Praxis hat sich seit Ende der 1950er Jahre auf dem Kontinent stark ausgebreitet vor allem in Westeuropa, aber auch im Osten und zwischen den Städten der Blöcke während des Kalten Krieges. Ihre Geschichte ermöglicht es, die internationalen Beziehungen „von unten“ zu betrachten. Andererseits stellt sich die Frage: wie lebendig sind unsere  Städtepartnerschaften heute?

This event was held in German.

Mr. Weber was our 2023 keynote speaker at TUM and shared valuable insights on the future of Europe.

The European Union Week 2022 took place from May 9-12, 2022 in a hybrid format (in-person and online) and was organized by the TUM School of Management, together with the TUM Speakers Series, HEC Paris, HEC Débats and our new partner Akademia Leona Koźmińskiego (Kozminski University). At the kick-off event of the EU-Week Mariya Gabriel, EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, presented the priorities of the forthcoming European Innovation Agenda and the new European higher education strategy during a visit to TUM. The Commissioner emphasized the role of talents and deep-tech startups for the future of Europe. Please find the video of the whole speech below.

As part of the European Union Week 2021, the TUM School of Management, in cooperation with the HEC Paris and the student associations TUM Speakers Series and HEC Débats, organized a three-day conference, which took place for the very first time in an online format from May 10 – 12, 2021. Each of the conference days addressed a major topic of contemporary relevance for the European continent and aimed to inform students all over Europe about the state of the European Union, ultimately providing a perspective about the EU’s present and future.

We believe that grasping the unique historical dimensions of the EU is essential in order to secure our shared future. At the heart of the events lies our commitment to the continuation of a single, united Europe.