The signing of the agreement by Rector Engl and ELI President Pichonnaz took place in presence of Vice-Rector of the University of Vienna, Prof Dr Jean-Robert Tyran, former ELI President and current ELI Scientific Director, Prof Dr Christiane Wendehorst, as well as ELI’s Secretary General, Dr Vanessa Wilcox.

The agreement comes months after ELI celebrated a significant milestone, its Decennial; an event that attracted prominent personalities such as Koen Lenaerts (President of the Court of Justice of the European Union), Robert Spano (President of the European Court of Human Rights) and Didier Reynders (European Commissioner for Justice). On the occasion, Rector Engl underlined the importance of the close relationship the University of Vienna and its Law Faculty enjoy with ELI, pointing among other things to the involvement of many of its staff members in ELI’s high-profile projects. ELI also values this relationship immensely, not only in light of the financial support it receives but also for the stability and prospects of growth that it brings.

As he signed the agreement, Rector Engl remarked that: ‘The University of Vienna and in particular the Faculty of Law are eager to be intensively involved in the existing cooperation and to be able to make appropriate use of the possibilities of Europe-wide networking.’

President Pichonnaz spoke on behalf of the ELI Executive Committee, saying that in 2011, when ELI was founded, its administrative seat was chosen through a public tender. The University of Vienna, with its renown and its commitment to supporting ELI for the long run, convinced those tasked to decide on the fate of ELI’s seat. The signing of the extension of the Framework Cooperation Agreement for another four years (from 2023–2027) today is yet another confirmation not only that initial promises were kept, but also that the mutual interests of both parties under this arrangement are aligned. It is therefore with great pleasure that ELI, and in particular its Executive Committee, acknowledges the renewed commitment of the University of Vienna towards ELI. Despite the difficult times in Europe, or more precisely, because of the difficulties Europe and the world at large are witnessing, it is of utmost importance that this extended Framework Cooperation Agreement is signed today, with a view to enhancing ELI’s potential of strengthening its resilient community of jurists. Fundamental principles and the rule of law in Europe need reaffirming; Europe needs to gear up for the digital age and the existential threats of climate change and environmental degradation must be addressed. These are some of tasks that ELI, thanks to the support of the University of Vienna, has and continues to tackle with its membership of close to 2,000 leading lawyers, judges, academics and other legal professionals from across Europe and beyond.

At ELI’s 2021 Annual Conference, Federal President of the Republic of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen, observed in his opening speech that it is because of the confidence the University of Vienna had and has in ELI that Austria is at the centre of the most important legal discussions. Like him, ELI is ‘proud’ that Austria, and more specifically, the University of Vienna, is its host. Above all, ELI warmly thanks Rector Engl and everyone else at the University that have spoken in its favour. It looks forward to continuing to strengthen ties with the University and to building on this collaboration with a view to improving the quality of law in Europe.

The press release (in German) can be read here.