WORLDWIDE ASSOCIATION DEDICATED TO STUDYING EUROPEAN UNION ANNOUNCES NAME CHANGE

August 24, 2001

PITTSBURGH—To better reflect its scope and purpose, the European Community Studies Association last month changed its name to the European Union Studies Association (EUSA).

"The name change will be extremely useful," said Alberta Sbragia, director of the European Union Center at the University of Pittsburgh and 1993-95 chair of the Association. "The 'European Community' never really got the interest of most Americans, while the 'European Union' is finally beginning to penetrate their awareness and imaginations."

"It's much easier now to explain to people who we are and what we do," said Valerie Staats, EUSA executive director. "Because of the new Euro currency, the open borders, and other changes in Europe, American travelers and business people are becoming much more aware of European Union affairs."

The European Union Studies Association (EUSA) is the premier scholarly and professional association, worldwide, focusing on the European Union. Founded in 1988, EUSA now has1400 members in the United States, Canada, Europe, and other countries, from the social sciences, the humanities, the business community, the legal profession, and governments on both sides of the Atlantic. Headquartered at the University of Pittsburgh and hosted by Pitt's University Center for International Studies, EUSA is an independent nonprofit educational organization. Its support comes from membership dues, donations, program revenue, and grants.

For more information about the European Union Studies Association, visit the Web site, www.eustudies.org.

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