Upcoming conferences and guest lectures:
Workshop: Law and Society in South-East Asia, December 17th 2014, at 17:00-18.30
17.00 Introduction, Dr Christoph Schewe University of Latvia
17.10 Socialist Constitutionalism? The Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam of 2013 – Comments from the perspective of European constitutional theory ; see: the text of the 2013 constitution
Prof. Dr. Thomas Schmitz, adjunct professor at the University of Göttingen, former DAAD Lecturer in law at the University of Latvia and at the Hanoi Law University, Vietnam
17.40 Waves of freedom: Dynamics of a civil society-development along the Chinese South-Eastern border
Dr Frank Kraushaar, Professor for Chinese Literature
University of Latvia
Wednesday, December 17th 2014, at 17:00-18.30
17.00-18.10 presentations and open discussion 18.00-18.30
University of Latvia, Raiņa bulv. 19, Riga, Auditorium 7
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Enhancing the rule of law or dividing the globe? – Regionalisation and the role of law in trade blocks of the 21st century PDF of the announcement
Background & topic
Almost every day, international press reports on “TTIP” and “Mega Regionals” while only a few months ago, it seemed like the peak times of emerging Regional and Free trade agreements (RTAs/FTAs) had been over. At least this was the impression one might have gotten in regards to their visibility in the media. A closer look however, reveals the opposite: Regional trade integration has gained a new momentum as the number of RTAs is rising, their structures are reformed and politicians praise their presumably positive effects for welfare gains and for the rule of law. Frequently, in order to emphasise their commitment for integration, these RTAs claim to follow the integration process in the EU.
The workshop aims at identifying the main aspects that contribute to economic integration and examines the role of law in this process. Comparative studies examine, in how far the main legal elements relevant for European Integration have been integrated in RTAs in other parts of the world.
Program
17.00 Introduction – setting the scene: International economy, regionalisation and the rule of law
17.20 The EU – state of the art of integration: What are the (legal) secrets of its success? Benchmarks for comparing RTAs
Dr. Christoph Schewe M.E.S., DAAD-visiting Assoc. Professor at the University of Latvia
17.50 The ASEAN Economic Community and the rule of law
Prof. Dr. Thomas Schmitz, adjunct professor at the University of Göttingen, former DAAD Lecturer in law at the University of Latvia and at the Hanoi Law University, Vietnam
18.30 Coffee break
18.45 Enhancing the rule of law through regional integration? The case of Eastern African Community
Dr habil Tomasz Milej, Senior Lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam School of Law & extraordinary Professor at the University of Zielona Góra (Poland), currently on leave
19.30 Putting the pieces together: Integration processes today, perspectives, partnership and association agreements and the role of law
A panel talk (Mileij/Schewe/Schmitz) & open discussion
on
Monday, December 15th 2014, at 17:00-20:00
University of Latvia, Raiņa bulv. 19, Riga, Room Nr. 153 (Conference hall / Konference Sala)
For more information see: www.hochschulkontor.lv & www.schewe.lu.lv
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Public guest lecture and book presentation on Wednesday 8 October 2014 at 5 pm in the Conference Hall (room 153) of the University of Latvia.
opened by
Andrea Wiktorin, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany
With a public guest lecture by
Professor Dr. Markus Kotzur LL.M. on
European Neighbourhood Policy in Times of Crisis – Challenges and Perspectives.
and
Book Presentation
Eiropas Savienības tiesības. I daļa. ES Institucionālās tiesības, (The Law of the European Union I – Institutional Law) by Dr Schewe, Dr Buka, Gailitis, Strazdiņš
Program
17.00-17.15 Registration
Introduction – Dr. Christoph Schewe, Hans Golombeck, Baltisch-Deutsches Hochschulkontor
17.20 Welcome address – Andrea Wiktorin, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany
17.30 European Neighbourhood Policy in Times of Crisis – Challenges and Perspectives – Prof. Dr. Markus Kotzur, Hamburg University
18.30 Presentation of the book project Eiropas Savienības tiesības. I daļa. ES Institucionālās tiesības
- The projects European Union Law I & II – Dr. Christoph Schewe
- The book from a Latvian Lecturer perspective – Dr. Arnis Buka
- Legal science in Latvia and the use of German dogmatic and language: a student’s perspective – Girts Strazdiņš
19.00 Reception & TNA book-stand
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The lecture:
Professor Dr. Markus Kotzur LL.M. from Hamburg University will hold a public lecture on the topic European Neighbourhood Policy in Times of Crisis – Challenges and Perspectives.
In the light of the current Ukraine crisis, the relation between the European Union and its Eastern neighbours is confronted with considerable challenges. The idealistic approach to achieve integration through a “Europe of open borders” seems to find its limits in today’s reality and question the effectivity of this political instrument. Professor Kotzur will discuss challenges, chances and limits of the European Neighbourhood policy including aspects in need of reform. The current significance of this topic also for the Bealtic-Sea-Region is illustrated by the fact that it will be one of the priorities of the Latvian presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2015.
The project: Eiropas Savienības tiesības. I daļa. ES Institucionālās tiesības, (The Law of the European Union I – Institutional Law)
Until now there is no complete textbook on European law in Latvian language reflecting the changes made by the Lisbon treaty. It was the aim of the project, led by DAAD-visiting associate Professor Dr. Christoph Schewe to, jointly with Latvian scholars, fill this gap and compile a textbook on this topic. In the first part of this event the authors present the result of this project – The institutional law of the European Union. Furthermore, Christoph Schewe will give an overview of the follow-up project on The Substantive Law of the European Union, which also, is supported by the Baltisch-Deutsches-Hochschulkontor/DAAD with funds from the German Federal Foreign Office.
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The project EU Law book (Vol I) / Eiropas Tiesības I is accomplished and the book is now on sale! 
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Baltic Summer School of Comparative Business Law 17 – 31 August 2014, 3 ECTS Tartu – Riga – Vilnius Application: https://goeast.daad.de/de/ Sommerschulen 2014 Riga
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Thursday, October 3rd, 16.15 at the University of Latvia, Room 153, Raiņa bulv. 19, Riga
Public guest lecture
by
Prof. Dr. Hannes Rösler, LL.M. (Harvard),
Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law in Hamburg and interim professor at the University of Frankfurt (Oder)
The effectiveness and future of the preliminary references to the European Court of Justice
Opening presentations:
Dr. Christoph Schewe, M.E.S. (Salamanca),
DAAD-visiting assoc. professor at the University of Latvia
Shaping and tuning of law in the EU – value and limits of the intra-EU dialogue of courts
and
Presentation of the project „European Law I”
supported by the Baltic-German University Liaison Office
and
Dr. Arnis Buka
Lecturer at the University of Latvia
The preliminary ruling procedure – a Latvian perspective
Thursday, October 3rd, 16.15;
Registration and coffee from 15.45
University of Latvia, Room 153, Raiņa bulv. 19, Riga
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Guest Lecture at the Charles University, Prague, Europäische Wirtschaftstransaktionen II:
EU Recht und der Schutz internationaler Investitionen,
Freitag, 19.4.2013 9-13 Uhr
The European IP-Framework in a Knowledge-Based Society: Legal and Economic Perspectives,
Friday, 3rd May, 9.30 – 17.00
Estonian National Library, Tõnismägi 2, Tallinn
NB: The participation is free of charge, but subject to registration. Please register at airi.annama@ut.ee
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Previous events:
3 December 2012 guest lecture by:
EU Citizenship – Solidarity without Limits? (PDF of Chapter 5 of his book Understanding EU Law, 3rd edition)
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Prof Lauri Mälksoo, Tartu University on 30.11.2012:
Russia in International Law
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1 November 2012 workshop on:
– a transatlantic perspective, with Estonian, Latvian, German, and United States viewpoints
Prof. Dr. Christoph Schewe 