On 28 November, a memorial gathering was held at Centre Céramique in Maastricht to honour Mathieu Segers, who passed away in December 2023. The event, organised on behalf of Maastricht University (UM) by Studio Europa Maastricht (SEM), brought together family members, close friends, former colleagues, politicians and others to commemorate Segers’ legacy, work and life. The atmosphere of the gathering was marked by deep appreciation and respect for his invaluable contributions to the debate on European integration.
Societal significance of Mathieu Segers’ work
At the heart of the programme were the inauguration of the Mathieu Segers Europa Archief (EAMS) and the presentation of his latest book, Europa en het idee uit de toekomst. The book launch took place during a special episode of the Café Europa podcast, on which Segers had long been a prominent voice.
Following the opening by Rianne Letschert (President of Maastricht University), Steven van Hecke (Professor in European Politics, KU Leuven) and Corien Prins (Chair of the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy and Professor of Law and Information Technology, Tilburg University) discussed the significance of Segers’ work. This discussion was moderated by Sophie Vanhoonacker (Chair in Administrative Governance and Jean Monnet Professor, UM).
In the Café Europa podcast, Mai Spijkers from Prometheus Publishing officially presented Europa en het idee uit de toekomst. Under the guidance of host Annette van Soest, philosopher Tamar de Waal (University of Amsterdam) and van Hecke delved into Segers’ final book and his unique ability to translate academic insights for a broader audience.
Mathieu Segers Europa Archief
After an introduction to the archive by Eliane Demollin-Schneiders, Regional Minister of the Province of Limburg, it was officially opened with a presentation by Bart Stol, Project Leader for European Heritage and the Maastricht Treaty at SEM. Mathieu Segers was instrumental in establishing this unique archive, which was developed by SEM at the request of the Province of Limburg as part of recognising the Maastricht Treaty as European heritage.
The archive brings together the legacies of key individuals and institutional records that provide insight into the origins of the treaty and its main elements: the founding of the EU and the introduction of the euro. Mathieu Segers’ personal archive is also included in the EAMS. This personal collection contains documents gathered throughout his career for numerous research projects on the history of European integration.
In 2024, the archive was named after Segers and designated as academic heritage of Maastricht University. By housing the archive at Centre Céramique, it is accessible not only to academics but also to other interested persons, fulfilling one of Mathieu Segers’ explicit wishes. The daily management of the EAMS is led by Bart Stol.
The collection of the EAMS and practical information about accessing and consulting it at Centre Céramique can be found on the Studio Europa Maastricht website.
