This project engages with Europe's place in a changing world with an American reference point, but broader implications. It considers the bilateral relationship (specifically the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) negotiations); triangular diplomacy towards Russia; transatlantic competition over global rules (particularly with respect to data privacy); and the EU's role in peacekeeping. In doing so it aims to enhance and consolidate teaching on the EU at Georgia Tech and to increase public understanding of the EU's role in the world. The project has a teaching component, a research component and a think-tank function. The teaching component centers on enabling students to earn our reinvigorated Certificate in European Affairs without having to leave campus, which would make it easier for engineering and science students to earn the certificate. Realizing this objective would require creating a new core course and regularizing our offerings of courses on the EU. The Center of Excellence grant would support the transition and enable consolidation of the reinvigorated certificate. The research and think-tank functions are organized in three work-packages: on the T-TIP negotiations, data privacy , and triangular diplomacy. Each work-package would consist of a series of public talks and a scholarly workshop. In addition, in conjunction with the Nobel Peace Laureates World Summit in Atlanta, we would organize an international conference on the EU’s role as a peace maker and peace keeper within Europe and around the world. Each work-package and the international conference aims to generate and disseminate new, policy-relevant research and promote and inform public debate. Findings would be disseminated through a working paper series, edited volumes, and videos. Events would engage representatives of civil society; city, state and federal government; and the European consular corps.