The objective of the European Union whose member, since 1st May 2004, is also Poland, is to facilitate cooperation and to help Member States exchange experiences.

The integration should not be visible, and is not, only on the national level, but it in mutual initiatives of citizens from different countries in such fields as science, culture or entertainment. Every activity that is the outcome of harmonious cooperation between people of different nationalities and cultures contributes to tightening bonds and reducing barriers. Between countries It is especially important in our region, which has been a melting pot where different cultures have intermixed and have been encouraged, to know each other better.

In order to accomplish the above mentioned aims, as well as to minimize the barriers between us and our neighbours, on 11th March 2005 the European Centre was established in Książ Castle. The reason behind the creation of the European Centre was the need to make use of the potential of Książ Castle and its European character for the benefit of research activities which may lead to a revival of the region.

The European Centre consists of the Programme Council and the European Centre’s employees. The Programme Council is responsible for setting general objectives and activities of the Centre, controlling the realization of statutory activities and supervising projects in progress.

The Programme Council :

• Chairwoman of the Programme Council Prof. Dr Gesine Schwan – the President of the Viadrina
• European University in Frankfurt (Oder);
• Bolko Graf von Hochberg Fürst von Pless;
• Dr Jerzy Tutaj – the President of "Zamek Książ" Company Ltd;
• Piotr Kruczkowski – Mayor of Wałbrzych
• Prof. Leon Kieres – Senator of the Republic of Poland , a former president of the Institute of National Remembrance
• Prof. Dr Gerhard Besier – Prof. of Dresden University of Technology

The main objectives of the European Centre include:

• Supervision and evaluation of civic attitudes and democratic processes of the social life in East-Central Europe countries;
• Initiating scientific projects;
• Organization of symposiums and conferences concerning European issues;
• Development of international cooperation, especially related to the specific location of countries, in the so-called triangle of countries;
• Raising the European Union funds and commercial funds for Książ Castle;
• Activation of the region of Wałbrzych and using the potential of the Castle complex for local communities

Educational activity:

• Organizing open lessons and workshops for secondary school children
• Organizing competitions for junior high school students
• Organizing discussion forums, with participation of decision-makers and authorities, secondary school and university students, concerning regional and European issues. The main purpose of forums is to create a young civic community

We cooperate with the following institutions:

• Institute of National Remembrance
• the Hannah Arendt Institute for the Research on Totalitarianism at the Technical University of Dresden
• the Centre for Historical Research in Potsdam
• Viadrina European University in Frankfurt (Oder)
• the University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Hildesheim
• Hradec Králové University
• Karlova Praha University
• Masarykova Brno University
• The Centre Kompetencyjne for Central and Eastern Europe – KOMOEL - Leipzig
• Saxon Institute of National Remembrance