Welcome to the homepage of the Institute for Erasmus Peace Solutions, transforming and renewing itself currently into the New Renaissance Knowledge House. The New Renaissance Knowledge House supports the Erasmus Project and Erasmus Peace Projects, forming jointly the New Renaissance Projects.
The New Renaissance Knowledge House supports the Erasmus Project through advocacy, in its practical execution and in the international and educational dissemination of this Project: both formal and non-formal, for publics of all ages and of all professional, educational, social and cultural backgrounds.
The Erasmus Project proposes and offers an actualisation and renaissance of the cultural-historical values of Desiderius Erasmus, the 'Prince of Humanists', as narrative and framework for the European Union. The basis texts of the Erasmus Project exist in the article 'The Erasmus Project: a Framework for Europe', published in Diplomatic World 54 (October 2017), in the Policy Paper 'The Republic of Erasmus: the EU as a Union of Values' disseminated since March 2018 and in the article 'The Dream of Erasmus: The Erasmus Project and Parliamentary Democracy inside the EU Institutional Framework', published in Diplomatic World 61 (October 2019).
And the New Renaissance Knowledge House supports the Erasmus Peace Projects through advocacy, in their practical execution and in the international and educational dissemination of these Projects: both formal and non-formal, for publics of all ages and of all professional, educational, social and cultural backgrounds.
The Erasmus Peace Projects propose and offer an actualization and renaissance of the cultural-historical values of Desiderius Erasmus, the 'Prince of Humanists', as shared narrative and practical framework for the entire International Community, for Europe and the World. The basis text of the Erasmus Peace Projects exists in the article 'The Erasmus Peace Projects and the Institute for Erasmus Peace Solutions' published on the website of Diplomatic World since January 2019, in Diplomatic World 59 (March 2019) and on the website of the Institute since June 2019.
All texts of both the Erasmus Project and the Erasmus Peace Projects, forming jointly the New Renaissance Projects, can be found in their latest form via this link: PDF download
The New Renaissance Knowledge House/Institute for Erasmus Peace Solutions also intends to help building a meeting and connecting Forum for Officials of the European Institutions and the United Nations and their Agencies, for Ambassadors and Diplomats, for Civil Society Actors, Artists and Entrepreneurs, for Thinkers and Writers, for Academics, Scholars and Students, for Teachers and Educators of all kinds and for all kinds of publics, to reflect jointly on the heritage humanism of Erasmus and Thomas More and its close connections with the cultural landscape of the Brabantine Capitals (amongst which was Brussels), the Duchy of Brabant and the Burgundian Low Countries, and to reflect on the relevance of updated Erasmian Values as narrative framework for Europe and the World: the ‘Erasmian Renaissance Forum’ (ERF) with an ‘Erasmian Renaissance Institute’ (ERI) as its coordination, administration and documentary center.
The Institute for Erasmus Peace Solutions is Partner in the Consortium of the Erasmus+ Project ‘EUROTHON’ and is an Associated Partner of Europa Nostra. The Institute works practically together with the Amici Thomae Mori, gathering Thomas More Experts internationally and having the Universidad de Jaén as its Anchor University in the EU, and works practically together with the Erasmus of Rotterdam Society, gathering Desiderius Erasmus Experts internationally and having Utrecht University as its Anchor University in the EU. The Institute is also advised by an eminent group of experts and scholars (i.a. from all of the four just mentioned organizations and institutions) specialized in Erasmus Studies or in Thomas More Studies or in the Netherlandish, Brabantine or Brussels Renaissance. The Institute for Erasmus Peace Solutions is also coordinating the ‘Utopia Alliance’: a Coalition of educational and/or research institutes, cultural houses, societies and other organizations with a specialty in these mentioned fields and with an already clearly formed vision on the relevance of updated Erasmian Values for the benefit of our Contemporary Societies. The Book of Utopia, composed by Thomas More and co-created by Desiderius Erasmus and Pieter Gillis, contains mostly an overview of the Erasmian Values and the Erasmian Program for Europe: the Book of Utopia became so one of the strongest inspirational sources of the historical Bauhaus Movement during the lifetime of the Weimar Republic. As such can an actualization and renaissance of Erasmian Values, offered as a narrative framework to the EU and promoted actively therefore by the Utopia Alliance, make these Values play once more their vitally inspirational role, now to an actualization or renewal of the values-based Bauhaus Movement to the benefit of the EU as a true EUtopia: a Good Place, a Good Home and a Good House to live in together, in harmony with ourselves and with the World around us.
Vice-President, CEO, European Project Manager
Maarten Vermeir holds a Master of Latin Literature and Linguistics from the Free University of Brussels (2011), an Advanced Master in Medieval and Renaissance Studies from the Catholic University of Leuven (2014), the International Master in European Studies (EU Project Management, European Advocacy and Policy Consultancy) from the Italian-Belgian Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Université Catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve (2016), a Bachelor of Laws from the Catholic University of Brussels (2004) with additional Master credits for i.a. European Law, International Law, Constitutional Law and Civil Law and the certificate - uniquely accepted in all EU member states - of 'European Mediator in the Practice of Justice', organized by the Association for International Arbitration and supported by the European Commission (2014). In the first half of 2017, he participated in the Brussels Export Manager Program of Brussels Invest & Export, the Service of Brussels Capital Region for International Trade. Maarten Vermeir is professionally active as European Advocate, Project Manager, European Project Consultant and Narrative Architect, specialized in European Affairs, Renaissance and Erasmus/Thomas More Studies, (Cultural) Diplomacy, Public Affairs and International Relations.
In February 2015, he was unconditionally accepted for a Graduate Research Study/PhD at University College London, with professor Lisa Jardine as his Supervisor and with 'Erasmus Politicus' as Research Plan. After her passing in October 2015 and the Brexit vote in June 2016, he remains looking for the best University to relocate this PhD Study to, dedicated to the memory of Professor Lisa Jardine and in combination with societal engagements throughout Europe and the World also inspired by her life and legacy. Through the by him developed and managed Erasmus Project/Erasmus Peace Projects he is advocating the Erasmian ideals and the by him updated Christian Humanist principles and values as common moral ground, philosophical foundation, cultural cornerstones and binding/uniting story or narrative framework of the European Union, as heart and soul of the European Dream and Project, with also great relevance and importance to the entire International Community and the United Nations.
Since March 2019, Mr Vermeir is the Co-Founder, Vice-President, CEO and the European Project Manager of the Institute for Erasmus Peace Solutions that supports the execution of and advocacy for the Erasmus Peace Projects and Erasmus Project. In this capacity he was recognized and mentioned as EU Influencer by Politico Europe in its EU Influence newsletter and in the EU Influence overview on the website of Politico Europe.
President
Ms Barbara Dietrich is the Owner, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Diplomatic World: the only diplomatic magazine published on paper in or around Brussels (with four editions a year distributed in high-quality paper form to 20 000 readers), counting amongst its subscribers all the Embassies in Brussels, all Members of the European Parliament, the DG’s of the European Commission, the European Council, Members of the Belgian Government, the Belgian Royal Family and other Heads of State plus many influential economic forums and organizations, advocacy and consultancy bureaus and think tanks in Brussels, providing this community and a wider public of interested readers with profound and trendsetting insights in the latest diplomatic, international and European evolutions and tendencies (with a special focus on cultural diplomacy, diplomatic economy, trade, business, art and health). The high-level content of Diplomatic World is based on a full-time engagement and direct/constant contacts with European and international officials - from Ambassadors and Ministers to European Commissioners, Prime Ministers and national and EU Presidents – of Barbara Dietrich. Through the high-quality paper publication, followed and circulating intensively inside the Brussels bubble and in other diplomatic capitals, and through the further online dissemination of the editions published under the supervision of Ms Dietrich, Diplomatic World has a very wide reach and can claim the status of a key diplomatic journalistic medium and very influential global think tank and opinion maker. Next to this, Ms Dietrich works as Art advisor with off-market activities, Art consultant for selected clients, Chairwoman of Diplomatic World Global Art Forum, Chairwoman of Diplomatic World Foundation for Women and as Curator of Art and Cultural Events for Living Tomorrow.
Legal Director
Philippe is a lawyer at the Brussels Bar and a specialist in conflict (re)solution, arbitration, and commercial law. He obtained his LL.M. inInternational Economic Law at the University of Warwick. Philippe was one of the first mediators to obtain the EMTPJ (European Mediation Training for Practitioners of Justice) certification and he frequently intervenes in matters that have a diplomatic dimension. He is a vice-president of the Chambre d’arbitrage d’experts, a member of the advisory board of the Brussels Diplomatic Academy, and a registered arbitrator with numerous institutions worldwide. He lectures on conflict resolution tools and strategies at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. He works in Dutch, French, and English. In addition, he is conversational in German and understands Polish.
