The Centre for European Research and Education was founded in 1996 by the Senate of the University of Pécs (then Janus Pannonius University) to function as an independent university institution. From 1998 on – in accordance with the beginning of Hungary’s EU-accession process – several other centres of European Studies were founded throughout Hungary, financed through government grants. Their main aim has been the organising and maintenance of European studies education and training.
The Centre for European Research and Education at the University of Pécs worked very intensely to realise these goals, many participants attended the conferences and courses and a series of EU-studies publications have started, named Studia Europaea. The Centre’s seat has been at the Faculty of Law from the beginning with the directors and administration also given by the faculty.
Through reorganisation during the integration of the University of Pécs in 2000, the Centre became an organisation of the Faculty of Law, maintaining its institutional status. According to its current statutes it has duties for the whole university – with a potential support from the university.