ACELG seeks to proactively contribute to the academic and policy debate on the evolution of legal and governance processes in Europe. Its focus is on mapping and understanding of, as well as critically reflecting upon, the constitutional (political, legal, and economic) evolution that has taken place, or is taking place, in the European Union.

It functions as a nationally and internationally acclaimed research centre on the European Union, on its law and on its governance practices. ACELG provides an environment in which the goals of research excellence, international and national profiling, external research funding and the retention of talented researchers are pursued.