It offers scholarships and research grants, publications, and an annual conference.

The Council for European Studies was founded in 1970 with a grant from the Ford Foundation.

However, it ceased to be a consortium of eight in 1972, when twenty other universities were invited to become institutional members.

Membership provides access to the full range of CES fellowship and award competitions, publications, research resources, and professional development opportunities.

The organization's publications include: The following research networks are currently supported by the Council for European Studies: