In the afternoon of 10 April, 2013, the head of Delegation of the European Commission to China Ambassador Dr. Markus Erderer invited by CESL and Ambassador Forum of CUPL gave a lecture entitled "European History: How the Rule of Law Shapes European Union" in CUPL Changping campus. Before the lecture, Mr. Ambassador along with his delegation had a short meeting with CUPL President Prof. Huang Jin.

The lecture was presided over by CESL Chinese co-dean Prof. Liu Fei. Mr. Thierry Rommel, Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific of EU External Assistance and Cooperation; Mr. Mathias Reusing and Mr. Daphael Drosewski, First Secretaries of Delegation of the European Commission to China and Ms. Rita Cauli, Attache of Delegation of the European Commission to China, CESL European co-dean Prof. Aalt Willem Heringa, Prof. Wolfgang Werner Däubler and around 120 CUPL students and teachers attended the meeting. Prof. Liu Fei expressed his warm welcome to the Ambassador and simply introduced the Ambassador.

In the latter Lecture, the Ambassador first expressed his love of legal profession. He said he missed very much those days in law school. Listening to the insights of professors, interacting with the students and furthering study in a foreign country all left deep imprints on his personal growth process. Meanwhile, he believes that the development and advancement of the rule of law requires each law student to contribute their wisdom and courage, and each present student should have this ideal and work for it.

Mr. Ambassador thinks that rule of law is a major factor in promoting European integration process and there are strong proofs of that in all three different historical periods. The first period is the 17th century. With the formation of the concept of the nation-state, there were increasingly acute contradictions between European monarchs and their subjects. And in a constant battle between the two sides, the peoples of countries began to use the weapon of the rule of law to protect private rights from monarchical intrusion. The rule of law promoted a trust relationship between the monarchs and the subjects thus to a large extent protected the internal stability of countries. Meanwhile, it became a generally accepted concept for Europe providing the common value basis for European integration. Mid-20th century is the second period. After two world wars, inner peace of Europe became the most important issue of concern for countries within Europe. People hoped to build a strong intercontinental organization to achieve this peace and the stable of European Community (EU predecessor). At the same time, because of the profound lessons from the world wars during which the rule of law was brutally trampled, the rule of law was taken as the gist of European integration from the outset. It is the bond of trust between States and the cornerstone of the EU to establish and develop. The third period is into the 21st century when European debt crisis, increased of Member States and instability of international situations impact EU one after another and endless dispute between major Member States make the EU face a crisis of confidence. In that case, the rule of law once again plays an important role. Its inherent values such as fairness, stability and order establish a wide range of trust within countries, between countries and between the EU and other countries in the world to overcome difficulties and respond to challenges.

Mr. Ambassador pointed out that the aim of establishment of the EU is to better solve security, political and economic problems, replacing conflicts with cooperation. Considering this purpose, the EU also maintains certain flexibility on the basis of rule of law to adjust its strategy according to specific situations and seek the most appropriate solution. Meanwhile, the EU also keeps pace with the time. Joining of new Member States, domestic reforms of current Member States and exchanges and cooperation within the world inject new vitality to the EU. Currently, the EU is seeking further integration and development. The EU has always been open and inclusive. Varieties of criticisms and suggestions are welcomed.

Subsequently, Mr. Ambassador talked about the important function of CESL. Mr. Ambassador thinks that CESL is one of the most important achievements of China and the EU cooperation in legal field. She not only cultivates a number of young jurists who are proficient on Chinese law and European Law but also provides legal basis for deep cooperation by both sides in political, economical and cultural fields. The EU attaches great importance to CESL and has full trust and appreciation to the two co-deans, professors from China and Europe and every CESL students and will give strong support in financial aspects. Mr. Ambassador also said that the cooperation project will continue and this is a very good opportunity for both China and Europe.

After the Lecture, Prof. Heringa thanked Mr. Ambassador for his wonderful speech. He commented: the function of lawyers is very important in the establishment and development of rule of law because they need to maintain a rule for politicians to sit down for negotiations in order to solve problems and achieve the rule of law and peace. In the functioning of the EU, lawyers need to strive to make people trust actions of the EU politicians, which is a condition of realization of rule of law. Therefore, lawyers take on more responsibility and of course it is also the responsibility of politicians, professors of law as well as students. There is no doubt of the importance of the rule of law, therefore the importance of law students are reflected.

In the question session at the end, Mr. Ambassador had an in-depth interaction with on-site students and answered questions such as "positioning of impact assessment", "dispute resolution among Member States", "EU harmonized fiscal policy". After the lecture, many students said the one hour lecture by Mr. Ambassador benefited them a lot and it also inspired more in-depth thinking on European legal issues as well as introducing European history to students.

Report by Wei Wei, master student, intake 2012
Translation by Fan Yao

CESL students participated in the 38th CUPL Sports Day on April 20 and 21, 2013. It was the third time that CESL students participated in the university Sports Day. More than 40 students took part in nearly 20 sport events, some of them even enrolled in several sports, such as HE Taihong, ZHU Peng, etc. Achieving great success in these games, the athletes of CESL re-showed the spirit to struggle endlessly, the belief for pursuing success and the determination to defend the honor.

Internationalization is CESL's specialty. The CESL students' delegation was composed of 56 students with small colorful Chinese and European national flags in hands. With refreshing mood and loud slogan, they greatly won cheers and applauses from the audiences. Colorful national flags became an attractive sight on the ground track field, and also the special symbol of CESL.

More than 40 athletes from CESL achieved excellent results in two days of competing:

1. We know, by now, with mutual efforts, remarkable achievements and progress has been made in the course of constructing the China-EU School of Law. First, could you briefly state the operating mechanism and educational ideas of this school?   You know, since CESL is kind of mystery for students in CUPL?

Answer: The China EU School of Law was established to connect Chinese law and European law, comparative law with each other and to set up a law school with a mixed student body of Chinese students and European students, Chinese teachers and European teachers, training of legal professionals and joint Chinese-European research projects. Initiated by the P.R. China and the EU, it is being implemented by a consortium of Chinese and European universities and educational institutions. All, with the philosophy of bringing Chinese law and European law together, with the purpose to educate students and engage in research in the interface China – EU, bearing in mind that China EU trade is increasing, Chinese companies conduct business in and with the EU and EU businesses in and within China. It is good that in that perspective a joint China EU School of Law was set up as a forum for teaching, research and training and as center of excellence.

2. At present, the sudden demission of professor Fang Liufang has aroused wide comments. We know, as the former joint dean on the China part, Professor Fang had ever made enormous contribution to CESL．Rumor has it that China party and Europe party have some difficulty in reaching consensus on some issues, such as talents training and salaries. And it is that directly or indirectly leading to Professor Fang's demission. We are all eager to know the real situation, could you clear our doubt?

Answer: The China EU School of Law operates on an equal joint China EU basis. It has had therefore two co-deans, a Chinese co-dean and a European co-dean. Because of the fact that it is a joint project and school, decisions have to be taken in consensus. The implication in the question that CUPL and UHH, or Chinese partners and European partners disagree is not true, it cannot be true, since jointly two new co-deans have been appointed. A characteristic of rumors is that they are usually false. Apparently people seem to enjoy spreading false rumors. Discrediting other people and other people’s work is usually done out of jealousy or envy. Being a co-dean is not a life long job, and changes of co-deans is a regular event and nothing extra ordinary. The Chinese and European partners agree on the project, on its course and on its progress. It was felt necessary however to appoint two new co-deans since all partners, because of the uniqueness of the project, felt it was important to introduce new dynamics in the project and to achieve all its potentials to the full.

3. If there is something truth in rumors, then where does the disagreement come? Whether actually Professor Fang has kind of disagreement on educational ideas of the European side? Or there is something misunderstanding because of not so good communication?
If there is some disagreement, then what is it? Could you give us more specific details?
Again, if demission results from communication problems, then how the two parties communicate with related issues?

Answer: these questions have been dealt with. To repeat: there are no disagreements between the partners. All partners agree that it is a wonderful project, and that new dynamics were needed to realize the potential of CESL. The two new co-deans have therefore drafted an action plan for the Joint Managerial Committee, just to do that. CUPL and UHH have both signed an agreement for extension of the project. We are presently talking with the EU about our sustainable future. Would CUPL and CESL, and the other partners, and the EU and the two co-deans do so when they would disagree? I know about many rumors; they are simply not to be believed. Judge CUPL, UHH and the two co-deans for their actions. And they are positive and will lead to a vibrant law school with a wonderful Journal (China EU Law Journal), research activities, professional training, book series, exchange possibilities, sustainable future, career support activities and other actions. Would I come to China for a project in which I do not believe? Of course not.”

4. The contract of China and Europe parties only last for five years. Before it is said that the European party will not renew the contract.　If so, students from CESL would not continue the study of Master Degree in European Law, which has been stated in the prospectus of CESL.  We are wonder whether it is that situation making the European party decides to renew for another two years?  Or Professor Fang's demission wins the two-year- renewal?

Answer: This question is again based upon hearsay and is totally wrong or based upon rumors. UHH and CUPL have signed the extension agreement and contract! They both have full confidence in the project, the new spirit and activities and the ambitions, and have underlined that confidence by appointing in a consensus two new co-deans.

5. The past five years have witnessed the rise-up of CESL and the European party has made great contribution. Looking int the future, what is your expectations and planning for CESL?

Answer: This question, as do many of the other questions, seems to assume that there is a European party and a Chinese party. Let’s be clear: there are no parties here, but there are partners from different countries who have engaged in this project and do want to have it succeed. And that is what CUPL, UHH and all other partners, with the co-deans, are trying to achieve. My perspective on the future is one of confidence, because of the potential of the project and the quality of the master programs and of the students.

Prof dr Aalt Willem Heringa

Thank you.

Dear students,

We have enclosed for your convenience and for you to use when necessary a declaration of the dean of the Faculty of Law of UHH (Hamburg University). The declaration holds that the LLM, obtained after successfull completion of the MEIL programme offered by CESL, is a full accredited German LLM with legal value. This declaration shows that the MEIL programme as such has been accredited under German Law. Any German LLM is furthermore acknowledged and recognised within the EU under EU rules.

The declaration shows that the MEIL LLM degree is indeed the degree which is meant under the CESL rules and regulations, because it meets all requirements as to the subjects of the courses, the credits to be obtained and the master level of the courses, which are set by German authorities and are abided by in law faculties. And this is indeed the case.

Since the MEIL is a regular and accredited UHH LLM, under the CESL contractual rules between all partners (PR China, EU, CUPL, UHH, and other partners)  it is obvious that all partners will recognise this LLM as a full fledged Master of Laws. For your convenience you may download the declaration and add it to your cv.

We trust that the declaration and this clarification will answer the questions some of you have put forward. As we have said before in different occasions: the double master students will be lawyers double plus, after their graduation. They are lawyers with knowledge of Chinese law, comparative law (culminating in a Chinese law degree); with knowledge of European and international law (as showed by the LLM degree MEIL); and with good command of the (legal) English language and with experiences with foreign law schools or foreign professors. That is truly unique and worthwile!

The two Co-Deans