LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear members,

The European Society of International Law continues to make progress.

It is now more than four years since the society was founded in Florence in May 2004. Since then, there have been annual ESIL events, with a ‘tradition’ of Biennial Conferences and Research Forums in alternate years. The Biennial Conferences in Paris in 2006 and in Heidelberg in 2008 were very well attended, with about 400 participants at each event, and the enthusiastic collaboration between younger and more senior scholars and international law practitioners led to stimulating intelligent debate. The ESIL Research Forums, in Geneva in 2005 and in Budapest in 2007, were also very successful events.

The exchange of ideas at these ESIL events is always fruitful and stimulating and provides the most concrete evidence of the validity of ESIL’s goals, as defined in Article 3 of its Constitution. On each occasion, the word that best describes the spirit that enlivens these meetings must be ‘European’. One may remain doubtful of the existence of a European view of international law but not of the interest and even the pleasure gained from these meetings by international lawyers from all over Europe, and increasingly from other continents.

Future events are already being organized: the next Research Forum will be in Helsinki in 2009 and the next Biennial Conference in Cambridge in 2010. It is hoped that these events will bring ESIL to the attention of more people in the international law community and encourage even more people to join our society. Beyond 2010 there are several possible venues under consideration.

The number of scholars and practitioners joining the society continues to increase and in 2008 the society has almost 600 members from 48 different countries. As well as individual members, the society has introduced a new category of ‘institutional member’ and corporations, non-profit organizations and publishers are now being invited to join the society. We are delighted with the success of this new initiative.

The benefits of ESIL membership are not limited to participation at ESIL events and the subscription to the European Journal of International Law. The continuing expansion of the number and scope of ESIL Interest Groups and the MILE project to “map the discipline of international law in Europe” are signs of success. ESIL members continue to develop new ways to work together and details of all of the new developments can be found on the ESIL website.
The Board, renewed in part as a result of the elections held during the General Assembly of 6th September 2008, has honoured me by appointing me once again as President of the society, as well as electing Thomas Skouteris as Secretary-General and Francesco Francioni and Anne Peters as Vice-Presidents. Thanks to the continued support of the European University Institute, the Board is assisted by Carsten Hoppe as our Executive Director and we are pleased to welcome our new Administrative Director, Joyce Davies.

The Board is keen to increase the impact of the European Society of International Law and is now actively involved in developing international cooperation and collaboration. The Research Forum in Helsinki next year will be our first joint venture with the American Society of International Law and we very much look forward to this opportunity to work together. Links with other societies are also underway.

One of the advantages of being such a young society, founded only four years ago, is that the society is open to new ideas and initiatives. All members are encouraged to approach any of the Board members to discuss any thoughts they may have for the future of the society.

Hélène Ruiz Fabri, ESIL President