What does the programme offer you?

The programme will comprise interactive lectures delivered by renowned academic experts and workshops led by experienced practitioners, enabling participants to glean first-hand experience of how theory is transformed into practice:

• Extensive knowledge of the core actors and instruments forming the foundations of the EU’s external action.
• Stimulating and current debates on EU external policy challenges such as Brexit and EU external relations, fundamental issues such as EU competences, mixed agreements and legal review.
• Language: all lectures will be held in English. 

Admission requirements:

• Students, civil servants or practitioners with an academic background or practical experience in law, political science or international relations.
• Please register by clicking on the green REGISTRATION button. 
• 6 scholarships are available for students, waiving the tuition fee which will be awarded on the basis of merit and financial need. If you apply for a scholarship don't register but please provide a statement of interest, explanation and CV with your application before May 26th and send it to by email to: elke.hundhausen@maastrichtuniversity.nl. You will be informed by Wednesday, 2 June.

Tuition fee:

• 50 EUR for students (including lecture material and certificate of attendance)
• 150 EUR for practitioners (including lecture material and certificate of attendance)
• 30 EUR for attendance per day

Programme on Monday 28 June

Programme on Tuesday 29 June

Programme on Wednesday 30 June

Speakers

• Dr. Antonios Antoniadis is member of the legal service of the Council, Brussels.
• Prof. Marise Cremona, Emeritus Professor in the Law Department, European University Institute, Florence. She is a co-Director of the Academy of European Law and general editor (with Profs Loic Azoulai and Nehal Bhuta) of The Collected Courses of the Academy of European Law, Oxford University Press.
• Dr. Wybe Douma is lecturer of International and European Environmental Law at The Hague University, consultant for EU law (eel.nl & eulegal.nl) and member of the Governing Board of CLEER.
• Prof. Christina Eckes is professor of EU law at the University of Amsterdam and member of the Governing Board of CLEER.
• Lóránt Havas  works as a Deputy at the EEAS Legal Affairs Division, Brussels.
• Dr Eva Kassoti is a Senior Researcher in International and EU Law and academic coordinator of CLEER, at the TMC Asser Institute, the Hague.
• Anders Neergaard is Head of Unit in the Legal Service of the European Parliament
• Josephine Norris, is member of the legal service, European Commission.
• Prof. Andrea Ott is professor of EU External Relations Law and Jean Monnet Chair in EU law at Maastricht University. She is member of the Governing Board of CLEER.
• Prof Peter Van Elsuwege is professor of EU law at Ghent University, and member of the governing board of CLEER.
• Prof. Ramses A. Wessel is professor of European Law at the University of Groningen. He is member of the Governing Board of CLEER.

Testimonials

• Testimonial of Jens Hillebrand Pohl:

As a PhD candidate, the CLEER Summer School on the Law of EU External Relations was a very rewarding and enriching experience. Academics, practitioners, doctoral researchers, postgraduate and even undergraduate students from all over Europe and beyond get to spend a stimulating week at Maastricht University’s beautiful ‘new-old’ campus building in the heart of Brussels, and entirely immerse themselves in this highly specialised topic.

The advanced lectures and interactive seminars were given by eminent practitioners and academics and were highly valuable, rigorous and inspiring. It was insightful to see how law and policy intersects in this field and to discuss complex contemporary issues of existential importance for the European project, everything from Brexit to neighbourhood relations to new trading relationships opening up with Japan, Canada, Mexico, Singapore and beyond.

For me, the best thing about the CLEER Summer School on the Law of EU External Relations was the exchange of views and experiences with the other participants. The CLEER Summer School provided a unique opportunity to interact and network with senior academics and practitioners, as well as aspiring ‘young’ professionals and students, in an informal and relaxed setting, whether on campus, over a coffee or over dinner. A particular highlight was the opportunity to make on-site visits to various European institutions and law firms around Brussels and to meet the lawyers, policymakers and experts actually responsible for implementing EU external policy in their daily work.

The CLEER Summer School inspired me to further pursue my interest in EU External Relations Law. I can heartily recommend this experience to anyone who is interested.”

• Testimonial of Kiril Mitrov:

The CLEER Summer School on the Law of EU External Relations was a very interesting and enriching experience!! 

The 5-day intensive programme consisted of many lectures on the various policy and institutional aspects on EU external relations law. Held by top academics and practitioners in this field, these lectures provided me both with an excellent theoretical framework of the issues, as well as some very useful practical and analytical insights on them. Moreover, the visits to the EEAS and the European Commission and the lectures held therein were very interesting, as they allowed me to see where and how the decisions and policies in this field are made and to better visualise what we had learned. 

Last but not least, the CLEER Summer School is an excellent opportunity to visit and explore Brussels, the capital of Europe, and spend a week with like-minded and amazing young people. It was a chance for me to develop great personal and professional relationships, with some of whom I am still in touch as we share similar interests and values. 

All in all, I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone that's interested in the field of EU External Relations to attend this summer school, because for me it was an experience that broadened my horizon, extended my knowledge on many policies and issues, and, most importantly, it really intensified my interest in this field and to a large extend determined my future academic and professional career. Namely, following the Sumer School I wrote my Master Thesis on a topic that was discussed during one  of the lectures, and now I am doing a PhD in the Law of EU External Relations. Seize this great opportunity and enjoy every moment of it!"