The Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence 'EU Integration and Citizens' Rights' (EUICR) explores ways to address the EU's increasing legitimacy crisis through focusing on individuals in society in their status as citizens, which Hannah Arendt defined as "the right to have rights". The EU is unique among international organisations through its capacity to generate rights directly effective in its Member States. Its ability of gaining legitimacy through this unique characteristic depends, however, on citizens confidence that EU-derived rights have substance and can be relied upon in practice. EUICR establishes interdisciplinary research in law, politics and economics exploring how the activation of citizens鈥 rights can enhance the EU鈥檚 legitimacy. The project comprises the EU, its neighbourhood and its global partnerships.