About ELI
Introduction
The European Law Institute (ELI) is an independent, democratic, membership-based organisation of distinguished founding. It was established as an ‘Association Internationale Sans But Lucratif’ (AISBL) under Belgian law on 1 June 2011. Inspired by the activities of the American Law Institute (ALI), established in 1923, ELI serves a similar purpose within the European legal context, focusing on European legal development in a global context.
Mission and Objectives
ELI’s mission is to initiate, conduct, and facilitate research, make recommendations, and provide practical guidance on European legal development. It is committed to shaping law not just as it is, but as it should be. The Institute organises its work around projects, which can be long-term or responses to emerging legislative developments, covering all branches of law, substantive and procedural, public and private. In its quest for better law-making, the Institute strives to understand and bridge the oft-perceived tensions between different legal cultures, as well as between scholarship and practice.
Prof Dr Pascal Pichonnaz, ELI President
Collaboration and Membership
To accomplish its tasks, the Institute operates primarily on its own initiative but is also consulted by European, international, and national bodies. Its inclusive approach involves wide consultation within its network of over 1,700 Individual Members and 160 Institutional Members. Notable Institutional Members are the European Parliament, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT), several supreme courts in Europe, law firms, faculties and professional associations, including the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), the Council of the Notariats of the European Union (CNUE), the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary (ENCJ) and the Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European Union.
Since its inception, the Institute has developed strong collaborative ties with the ALI, the United States Uniform Law Commission (ULC) and the Uniform Law Conference of Canada (ULCC). Additionally, it maintains close working relationships with the European legislature, national ministries of justice, key non-governmental organisations, and other sector-specific stakeholders.
The Institute’s Individual Members represent a broad and diverse spectrum of the legal community, encompassing practitioners from the bar, the judiciary, academia, and various other legal professions. This diversity reflects the rich mosaic of legal traditions, disciplines, and professional structures found across Europe and beyond. ELI’s Individual Members are widely respected and include distinguished figures, such as Presidents of both supranational and national courts.
Impact
Through its integrative approach, ELI has made a measurable impact on legislation at both the European and national levels. Its work influences legal practice and policy, touching the lives of millions across Europe and beyond.