Indiana University announced that it was selected by the Delegation of the European Commission as a location for a European Union Center of Excellence. It is one of one of ten sites to be established in the United States.

IU is already an official depository for the European Union. Materials are located in Government Information, Microforms and Statistical Services (GIMSS) on the 2nd floor of the Herman B Wells Library. All depositories automatically receive, free of charge, one copy of most EU periodical and monograph publications. Indiana University has been a Federal Depository Library since 1881.

IU was awarded $351,055 to establish the center, which will be directed by Fritz Breithaupt, associate professor of Germanic studies and director of West European studies, and David Ransel, the Robert F. Byrnes Professor of History and director of the Russian and East European Institute. 

The network of centers will promote the study of the 25-nation European Union, its institutions and policies, and EU relations with the United States through teaching programs, scholarly research and outreach activities.