The SEE | EU Cluster of Excellence in European  and International Law project in which Faculties of Law 6 countries from South eastern Europe and Germany will closely  collaborate was officially initiated on the 11th  of November at the Saarland University in Saarbrucken. The project is financed by DAAD and in the 4 years of its existence it will be implemented by Europa-Institut and SEELS network.

The kick off conference was the first of the series of events that were held in the period from 11 till 13 of November, including a conference on the “Current Challenges in European and International Law” which gave opportunity for further discussions and exchange of experiences between SEE and EU partners, and the series of coordinative and strategic meetings which were undertaken for planning the crucial phases of this project.

On the opening ceremony the guests and participants were greeted and addressed by Prof. Dr. Thomas Giegerich, Director of the Europa Institut, Prof. Dr. Volker Linnweber, President of Saarland University, Prof. Dr. Goran Koevski, Manager of the Centre for SEELS and Dr. Doris Pack, Former Member of the European Parliament and head of its South Eastern Europe Delegation.

The project will be implemented in the period 2015 – 2018, by Europa Institut and SEELS network, with Europa Institut as a leading partner. Its main goal will be promotion of outstanding capabilities in the area of research and teaching, wit the thematic focus on the challenges and opportunities of European integration in the wider sense, including International Law elements, and the accession perspective of countries in the neighbourhood of the EU. It envisages the creation and launch of set of eLearning modules, establishment of a graduate school and enhancement of cross-border local and regional cooperation.