For the purpose of encouraging studies of the European Union and academic and civil society exchanges and cooperation globally, the European Union, in 1998, began establishing European Union Centres at prestigious universities in developed countries around the world. On 22 September 2008, the European Union Centre in Taiwan Consortium Universities was established, led by National Taiwan University and including National Taiwan University, National Chengchi University, National Chung Hsing University, Fu Jen Catholic University, Tamkang University, National Sun Yat-Sen University, and National Dong Hwa University. On 22 May 2009, the European Union Centre in Taiwan was formally inaugurated to establish a platform for the exchange between home and EU Studies groups and to advance the comprehension of EU and its integration to Taiwanese population.