A Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence is a focal point of competence and knowledge on European Union subjects. Centres of Excellence have a project duration of three years.

The academic responsibility of a Centre must be assumed by an existing Jean Monnet Chair holder.

A Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence gathers the expertise and competences of high-level experts (including Jean Monnet Chairs and/or Jean Monnet Module coordinators) and aims at developing synergies between the various disciplines and resources in European studies, as well as at creating joint transnational activities and structural links with academic institutions in other countries. It also ensures openness to civil society.

Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence have a major role in reaching out to students from faculties not normally dealing with European Union issues as well as to policy makers, civil servants, organised civil society and the general public at large.