Last week the annual Summer School was held in Florence in the wonderful Palazzo Medici Riccardi. The more than 20 participants from various European countries experienced an intense training week with lectures from distinguished scholars such as Hubert Heinelt, Luigi Bobbio and Sabine Kuhlmann. Our acknowledgement goes to Prof. Annick Magnier and Prof. Andrea Lippi from the Department of Political Science and Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence of the University of Florence. In addition the support of the Municipality of Florence and the Tuscan Unit of the Italian National Municipal Association is greatly appreciated. As in the last years, the Joint PhD Training School is a result of the cooperation between EURA and ECPR/LOGOPOL.