Jean Monnet Chair · Leiden University · 2022–2026

The European Union’s Role in Security and Global Affairs

EURISGA – The European Union’s Role in Security and Global Affairs is a Jean Monnet Chair funded by the European Commission (Grant Agreement Number 101085789).

Audience and panel at the Just Peace Dialogue, The Hague, 2025
Ambassador Ulf Melgaard at the 2025 Jean Monnet Lecture
Professor Joachim Koops at the European Parliament
Panel at the 2nd Hague-Brussels Forum at GGI, Brussels
Students at the 2026 Jean Monnet Lecture
Professor Joachim Koops at the Just Peace Dialogue
Briefing of EU PSC Ambassadors, Brussels
Leiden University team at EuroSim 2023, Cardiff
Bert Koenders at the inaugural Jean Monnet Lecture
Students at the 2025 Jean Monnet Lecture

The Chair seeks to explore a wide range of topics, education formats and policy needs linked to the EU’s past, present and future role in security and global affairs.

About the Chair →
01

Jean Monnet Lectures

All Jean Monnet Lectures →
Ambassador Ulf Melgaard delivering the 2025 Jean Monnet Lecture, with Professor Joachim KoopsEURISGA Jean Monnet Lecture 2025Ambassador Ulf Melgaard
  1. 16 March 2026The European Parliament’s Role in Mediation in times of Geopolitical Crisis: Some personal reflections and views from the fieldDr. Joanna Kaminska, European Parliament
  2. 8 December 2025The European Union’s Role in Security and Global Affairs: A review of the Danish EU Council Presidency and ways aheadAmbassador Ulf Melgaard, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to the Netherlands
  3. 7 November 2023How to negotiate successfully in the EU? Lessons learned as a former Foreign Minister and from the Dutch EU Policies of the last DecadeBert Koenders, former Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs
02

Teaching

All courses and syllabi →
Leiden University Honours Class team at EuroSim 2023 in CardiffHonours Class · EuroSim 2023, Cardiff“…thus making the Leiden University / FGGA Honours Class Team the most successful team of the entire Simulation.”“Best Debater” of the simulation and two “Best Delegate” awards
  1. 01Integrated Project 2Undergraduate teaching · 2022–23, 2023–24 and 2025–26
  2. 02Model European Union SimulationHonours Class
  3. 03A better world is possibleHonours Class
  4. 04Peace StudiesMA course
  5. 05The European Union’s Role in Security and Global AffairsMicrocredential pilot · New MA elective
03

Policy engagement

Policy briefings and keynotes →
Professor Joachim Koops delivering a keynote at the European Parliament24 June 2026 · European ParliamentThe Role of Parliaments in Progressing European Union Accession: Taking Values Seriously Briefing of EU PSC Ambassadors at the Cyprus Permanent Representation27 February 2026 · Cyprus PresidencyEURISGA Chair briefs EU PSC Ambassadors on future of EU-UN Relations Cover of the European Parliament study10 January 2025 · European Parliament studyParliaments in the EU enlargement process: strengthening capacities of accession country parliaments under the evolving enlargement methodology
04

Forums and dialogues

All events →
Audience and panel at the Just Peace Dialogue in The Hague16 June 2025 · Wijnhaven, The HagueJust Peace Dialogue: Imagining PeaceThe Hague Humanity Hub; City of The Hague
Panel at the 2nd Hague-Brussels Forum2nd Hague-Brussels Forum · 18 November 2025European and Global Approaches to Cyberdiplomacy: Perspectives from Theory and Practice 1st Hague-Brussels Forum in The Hague1st Hague-Brussels Forum · 22 November 2022Women, Life and Freedom: Making Sense of the Protests in Iran

Timeline

2022–2026

Nov 20221st Hague-Brussels ForumJan 2023EuroSim Model EU, CardiffNov 2023Inaugural Jean Monnet Lecture, Bert KoendersMar 2024EU simulation at GGI, BrusselsDec 2024First podcast episodeJan 2025European Parliament study on enlargement
Jun 2025Just Peace DialogueNov 20252nd Hague-Brussels ForumDec 2025Jean Monnet Lecture, Ambassador Ulf MelgaardFeb 2026Briefing of EU PSC AmbassadorsMar 2026Jean Monnet Lecture, Dr. Joanna KaminskaJun 2026Keynote at the European Parliament

Selected publications

All publications →
Journal article · West European Politics · 2025Stuck on the stairway of change: the EU’s enlargement and security and defence policies post 2022Antoaneta L. Dimitrova, Seda Gürkan and Joachim KoopsCommentary · Leiden Security and Global Affairs Blog · 2026Democracy’s missing infrastructure: why Europe keeps reaching for the security toolkitSophie L. VériterCommentary · Leiden Security and Global Affairs Blog · 2026European conventional arms control: past and futureWilliam Lippert
EURISGA Podcast cover artwork
PodcastThe EURISGA PodcastTwo series · 7 episodes
All episodes