The signing of Memorandum on Understanding between the European Public Law Organization (EPLO) and the University of Sarajevo took place in the University of Sarajevo on Tuesday, 19 May 2015. After the memorandum signing, Prof. Dr. Spyridon Flogaitis delivered a lecture on topic European vision of Bosnia and Herzegovina and EPLO This event was organized by the University of Sarajevo and the Greek Embassy in B-H.

The European Public Law Organization and the University of Sarajevo, sharing the same values for the promotion of knowledge and human capacities through education and training, as well as the spirit of international cooperation for a better understanding of the peoples of Europe and beyond signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the aim of establishing cooperation in the activities of education and training for civil servants, students and stakeholders. UNSA Rector, Pof, signed the Memorandum. Dr. Muharem Avdispahic, HonDSc and Prof. Dr. Spyridon Flogaitis, European Organization for Public Law President.

Rector Prof. Dr. Muharem Avdispahic pointed out that speaking about the European Union means talking about European values.
“For the University of Sarajevo, this agreement with the European Organization for Public Law has strong symbolic weight. Bosnia and Herzegovina acceded to the Cultural Convention of the Council of Europe in December 1994, which opened the way for our universities to the European Higher Education Area. It had been nine years before B-H became a member of the Council of Europe. For the future of this country, Brussels and the Strasbourg acquis are relevant. When we were in the besieged and shelled capital city of a country on the European continent, we defended European values, fighting to live day and night; none of us thought that once the war is over, we would live in the state that would be the first experiment in the field of public law, i.e. constitutional law. We trust that in the process of European integration, our human and civil dignity will be reaffirmed,” said Rector Avdispahic. He added “We are grateful to Greece for its supporting of the European path of Bosnia and Herzegovina. That perspective for all the Western Balkans countries was confirmed at the Thessaloniki Summit in 2003, under the Greek Presidency.”

Having reminded that under the Italian presiding over the EU, last November a strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region was adopted and that two weeks ago UNIADRION network roundtable discussion was held with the aim of enhancing inter-university cooperation and its potential for development of the region, Rector Avdispahic stated that this memorandum fits perfectly in that frame. “Of course, on behalf of the University of Sarajevo, a major contribution to its implementation is expected from the Faculty of Law.” said Rector Avdispahic.

After signing the Memorandum, Dr. Spyridon Flogaitis delivered a lecture on the topic European vision of Bosnia and Herzegovina and EPLO.

In his lecture, Professor Flogaitis paid tribute to the current presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina over the Council of Europe, which starts today: “Therefore, this is a historic day. I would like to offer my sincere congratulations and wish plenty of success during the BH presidency. This fact is consistent with unambiguous, continuous and enthusiastic support of Greece to the European perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina and confirms a stable European course of the country.”

During the lecture, Professor Flogaitis said that EU enlargement policy plays a dominant role particularly because the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries had been formed during the first Summit of EU and Western Balkans in Thessaloniki in June 2003.  That event is a historic and very important point, and forms the basis for daily activities in the context of relation between the EU and the Western Balkan countries.

“Eleven years later, during the Greek EU Presidency in 2014, perhaps not coincidentally in that city (Thessaloniki) the Ministerial Conference of the European Union and the Western Balkans countries was held again on 8 May 2014. It again confirmed European perspective, during which the focus was on interconnection of energy and transport sectors both between Western Balkans Countries and as well as with the EU Member States" said Professor Flogaitis. He added “It is well known that Greece, as a country that took the initiative to propose to the world powers the establishment of the European Organization for Public Law. The Greece also offered to establish the organization’s seat in that country, so it could be further developed, strongly supporting the European and Euro-Atlantic perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is particularly important that all political leaders and the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well, direct their aspirations towards this common goal.”


Professor Flogaitis recalled that in 2012 Bosnia and Herzegovina became the tenth full member of the European Organization for Public Law, conducting the ratification procedure much quickly than many other countries.

“In light of this we have to say that the European Organization for Public Law has in some way ‘codified’ already quite developed and harmonious cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina. That cooperation was being established over many years. In fact, the EPLO center in Brcko has the honor to cooperative with the entire public administration since 2000, especially with the Brcko District institutions, working on a common goal to support the unification of the BH judiciary, as well as contributing to the building of the institutions of the Brcko District. In achieving these goals, EPLO cooperated in numerous situations with the International Community, Office of the EU Special Representative, as well as with the Office of the High Representative, and via numerous projects and organized visits to District by international experts, daily work with all relevant stakeholders. The truth is that the Thessaloniki Agenda and the European perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina build the ideal framework for strong support of the activities of the European Organization for Public Law” said Professor Flogaitis.  He stressed that the European Organization for Public Law does not just have the history of activity in B-H during the last 15 years, but also that he honestly believes that it primarily has a real prospect for effective future cooperation.

Prof. Dr. Spyridon Flogaitis is a former minister and president of the UN International Administrative Court, currently presiding over the European Organization for Public Law (EPLO) with headquarters in Athens and the Department in the Brcko District. B-H has been a full member since 2012.

The European Organization for Public Law - EPLO (www.eplo.eu) is the successor to the European Centre for Public Law and was established in 2007 as an intergovernmental organization based in Athens. More than 50 universities and foundations from around the world are EPLO members. In the course of its existence and development, EPLO organized and conducted training sessions, designed educational programs, publications, undertook consulting activities, organized series of conferences and lecture, led the expert missions, organized public campaigns, and established important partnerships in more than 170 projects.