On September 11, 2000, at the initiative of the Rector Jean-Louis Vanherweghem, the ULB Board decided to create within the University, with financial support of and in close collaboration with the Bernheim Foundation, an interfaculty entity devoted to both the issues of peace and citizenship. Attached to the Institute for European Studies and directed by Eric Remacle, the Pole Bernheim for Peace Study and Citizenship aims to stimulate, within the various faculties of the University, curriculum, research and outward spread of the outcomes associated with these issues.


The year 2000-2001 witnessed the Pole Bernheim to set up the administrative and logistical support and conduct its first activities:

• Week of Peace on Solbosch Campus from 10 to 18 November 2000: public courses on peace in several faculties; open day  to NGOs;  the insignia of an honorary doctorate given to the President of the Republic of Mozambique Joachim Chissano during the "Commencement Ceremony."
• Selection of the benificiaries of Bernheim Chair for the Study of Peace and Citizenship for the next three academic years: the Chair will be awarded successively to Pierre Calame, Director General of the Foundation Charles Leopold Mayer for the Progress of Man Anton Pelinka, a professor at the University of Innsbruck and William Zartman, Professor at the Johns Hopkins University
• Selection of fellows will begin their doctoral research with the support the Pole Bernheim from October 1, 2001 for a period of four years: three scholarships were awarded for the Humanities to Mathieu Bietlot, Alina Cozma and Natalie Pauwels, for doctoral theses respectively devoted to detention centers for refugees, the Image of Jews in Central and Eastern Europe after 1989 and the Policy of the European Union in the prevention of trafficking that fuel conflict in Africa.

More information can be found on the website of the Pôle Bernheim (WEBSITE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION).