European Law Institute
Encyclopedia
The European Law Institute (ELI) is an independent non-profit organisation established to initiate, conduct and facilitate research, make recommendations and provide practical guidance in the field of European legal development. Building on the wealth of diverse legal traditions, its mission is the quest for better law-making in Europe and the enhancement of European legal integration. By its endeavours, ELI seeks to contribute to the formation of a more vigorous European legal community, integrating the achievements of the various legal cultures, endorsing the value of comparative knowledge, and taking a genuinely pan-European perspective. As such its work covers all branches of the law: substantive and procedural; private and public.
The idea of an ELI was inspired by the activities of the American Law Institute
(ALI), founded in 1923 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. Similar to the ALI the ELI has individual members (fellows), individual observers and institutional observers.
To accomplish its tasks, ELI operates on its own initiative. It is also, however, available for consultation by institutions involved in the development of law on a European, international or national level. As its perspective is not limited to the European experience, ELI is also seeking cooperation with Non-European or international organisations such as the American Law Institute or UNIDROIT.
ELI is committed to the principles of comprehensiveness and collaborative working, thus striving to bridge the oft-perceived gap between the different legal cultures, between public and private law, as well as between scholarship and practice. To further that commitment it seeks to involve a diverse range of personalities, reflecting the richness of the legal traditions, legal disciplines and vocational frameworks found throughout Europe. ELI is also open to the use of different methodological approaches and to canvassing insights and perspectives from as wide an audience as possible of those who share its vision.
On 31 May 31 2011, Sir Francis Jacobs was elected as the first President of the ELI.
The ELI has its Secretariat in Vienna, Austria, at Schottenring 14,1010 Vienna. The Secretariat is hosted by the University of Vienna. The Secretariat was inaugurated in a ceremony on November 17th 2011. The keynote speech was given by Viviane Reding
, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship.
EU Commission press release, 1 June 2011
Stream of the ELI Opening on Nov 17th 2011:
The idea of an ELI was inspired by the activities of the American Law Institute
American Law Institute
The American Law Institute was established in 1923 to promote the clarification and simplification of American common law and its adaptation to changing social needs. The ALI drafts, approves, and publishes Restatements of the Law, Principles of the Law, model codes, and other proposals for law...
(ALI), founded in 1923 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. Similar to the ALI the ELI has individual members (fellows), individual observers and institutional observers.
Tasks of the ELI
Among ELI’s core tasks are:- to evaluate and stimulate the development of EU law, legal policy, and practice, and in particular make proposals for the further development of the acquis and for the enhancement of EU law implementation by the Member States;
- to identify and analyse legal developments in areas within the competence of Member States which are relevant at the EU level;
- to study EU approaches regarding international law and enhance the role EU law could play globally, for instance in drafting international instruments or model rules;
- to conduct and facilitate pan-European research, in particular to draft, evaluate or improve principles and rules which are common to the European legal systems; and
- to provide a forum, for discussion and cooperation, of jurists irrespective of their vocation or occupation, inter alia academics, judges, lawyers and other legal professionals, who take an active interest in European legal development and together represent a broad range of legal traditions.
To accomplish its tasks, ELI operates on its own initiative. It is also, however, available for consultation by institutions involved in the development of law on a European, international or national level. As its perspective is not limited to the European experience, ELI is also seeking cooperation with Non-European or international organisations such as the American Law Institute or UNIDROIT.
ELI is committed to the principles of comprehensiveness and collaborative working, thus striving to bridge the oft-perceived gap between the different legal cultures, between public and private law, as well as between scholarship and practice. To further that commitment it seeks to involve a diverse range of personalities, reflecting the richness of the legal traditions, legal disciplines and vocational frameworks found throughout Europe. ELI is also open to the use of different methodological approaches and to canvassing insights and perspectives from as wide an audience as possible of those who share its vision.
Establishment
Following an agreement between 52 founding members made in Athens on 16 April 2011, the ELI was recognised as an International Non-Profit Association (AISBL/IVZW/IVoG) under Belgian law by Royal Decree of 1 June 2011 and presented to the public in Paris on the same day.On 31 May 31 2011, Sir Francis Jacobs was elected as the first President of the ELI.
The ELI has its Secretariat in Vienna, Austria, at Schottenring 14,1010 Vienna. The Secretariat is hosted by the University of Vienna. The Secretariat was inaugurated in a ceremony on November 17th 2011. The keynote speech was given by Viviane Reding
Viviane Reding
Viviane Reding is a Luxembourgian politician, currently serving as European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. Before starting a professional career as a journalist for the leading newspaper in Luxembourg, the Luxemburger Wort, she obtained a doctorate in human sciences...
, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship.
Links
ELI Website: http://europeanlawinstitute.euEU Commission press release, 1 June 2011
Stream of the ELI Opening on Nov 17th 2011: