Polish European Community Studies Association – PECSA was created in 1989 by scientist from the best Polish universities, led by professor Andrzej Stępniak, supported by the European Commission. What distinguishes PECSA is the inter- and multidisciplinary scientific background of its members. European studies projects and research prepared and conducted by PECSA require integration of knowledge from different fields: economics, political science, international relations, law, administrative sciences, sociology and anthropology.
PECSA is a member of European Community Studies Association (ECSA) international network that was created by the European Commission to promote European integration as a teaching subject. As a result of Europe 2020 Strategy, ECSA in cooperation with the European Commission and Jean Monnet professors participated in actions that aim at preparation of the best possible system of teaching European integration in changing international environment. ECSA network includes (as on July 2013) national sections in 28 EU member states as well in 32 non-member states, such as USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Venezuela, Brazil, Switzerland and Morocco. Professor Enrique Banus (Institut Carlemany d’Estudis Europeus, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC), Spain) is current chairman of ECSA network.
Doctor Aleksandra Borowicz, who is an employee of the Department of International Economics and Economic Development of the University of Gdańsk, has been the Chairwoman of PECSA since 2022. She has experience in applying for and implementing projects co-financed by the European Union, and is the author and co-author of publications in the field of foreign direct investment and European integration.
The function of the Chairwoman of PECSA in the years 2008-2022 was held by Professor Ewa Latoszek, a long-time employee of the Collegium of Socio-Economics, Warsaw School of Economics. As one of the pioneers of promoting the idea of European integration in scientific and academic environment in Poland, she is the author and co-author of numerous publications in this area.
In December 2019, with great sadness, we said goodbye to the co-founder of PECSA - professor Andrzej Stępniak. For many years he was the head of the Research Centre of European Integration at the University of Gdańsk; initiator and co-founder of the Polish European Community Studies Association. He was a promoter of European ideas, specializing in the economy of the European Union, especially in the issues of the functioning of the economic and monetary union and international capital flows. During many charismatic lectures, he repeated to students "Be Poles while remaining Europeans". He was a warm-hearted and wonderful man who we will miss in the organization.