The Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence STRATEGO aims to bring together expertise and competences on trust and EU governance, with a particular focus on regulatory simplification. Through an interdisciplinary approach, STRATEGO connects teaching, research and outreach activities across different disciplines at the University of Antwerp.
The new phase of STRATEGO (2026-2029) builds on the achievements of its first funding period (2023-2026), which focused on Sustainability and Trust in EU Multi-Level Governance. During this first period, STRATEGO explored trust dynamics between actors and institutions involved in EU governance processes, particularly in the fields of sustainable development, climate and biodiversity, business and entrepreneurship, and health. Through interdisciplinary collaboration between political science, public administration, law, economics and other disciplines, the Centre developed a network of expertise and fostered dialogue on trust and sustainability in EU governance.
Building on this foundation, STRATEGO-II shifts its thematic focus to Regulatory Simplification and Trust in EU Governance. This new focus reflects a changing EU policy agenda, which increasingly prioritises the simplification and optimisation of existing legislation alongside the development of new regulatory frameworks. Through initiatives such as the European Commission's omnibus packages, regulatory simplification has become a central element of EU policymaking, with the aim of reducing administrative burdens, improving the clarity and implementation of rules, and strengthening European competitiveness.
However, simplifying regulation also raises important questions about democratic legitimacy, accountability and trust. While clearer and more accessible rules may strengthen confidence in EU governance, reducing regulatory requirements may also affect the protection of social, economic and environmental interests. STRATEGO-II therefore examines how regulatory simplification affects trust in EU institutions and governance, and under what conditions simplification can contribute to effective, legitimate and accountable policymaking. The Centre aims to generate new academic insights and provide evidence-based knowledge for policymakers, practitioners, students and society at large.
STRATEGO brings together expertise from political science, public administration, law and economics, while engaging with other disciplines affected by the EU's regulatory simplification agenda, including environmental and health sciences, chemistry, engineering and informatics. This interdisciplinary approach allows the Centre to explore regulatory developments across different policy domains, such as sustainability, digital governance, agriculture, chemicals and health.
We see STRATEGO as an important vehicle for supporting EU-focused teaching, research and outreach at the University of Antwerp, particularly within the faculties of Social Sciences, Law, and Business and Economics. The Centre also contributes to strengthening the European profile of the university, in line with its European University status through the Young Universities for the Future of Europe (YUFE).