The overall rationale of this application for a ‘Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on Human Rights and the Rule of Law in Europe and the World’ (JMCEHR) is to create a research and teaching centre which will: Expand and deepen interdisciplinary research on human rights and the rule of law in the context of Europe and the world by establishing new theoretical, empirical and methodological insights, overviews and analysis;  Enhance post-graduate teaching in the area of human rights and rule of law with a view to Europe and the world by exploring and establishing new teaching tools; Foster academic and public debate about human rights and the rule of law in Europe and the world by reaching out to international scholars, practitioners and transnational civil society actors. The JMCEHR will not only focus on the foundations, objectives, dynamics and practice of human rights and the rule of law inside Europe, but also outside the EU (in third countries and international organizations). This contextualization enables the JMCEHR to critically reflect upon various human rights and rule of law approaches and dynamics in- and outside the EU. Overall, the interdisciplinary approach will focus on two research themes: Foundations, Development and Practice of Human Rights and Rule of Law in Europe Foundations, Development and Practice of Human Rights and Rule of Law in the WorldTo this end, several research centres, research groups and graduate programmes at the University of Leuven bring together their expertise in the field of human rights and the rule of law in the European Union and the world under the umbrella of JMCEHR.