Vrije Universiteit Brussel


Supervision of doctoral students

As part of the scientific research conducted by the Centre, and based on the international recognition of the scientific value of this research, members of the Centre actively participate in the supervision of doctoral research activities, in Belgium as well as abroad. These activities resulted first of all in the successful completeion of a number of doctoral dissertation where members of the Centre acted as promoter or co-promoter. Members of the Centre, moreover, have been asked on a regular basis to form part of doctoral supervision commissions, either in Belgium or abroad, or to act as opponent in countries were such system is in existence. Finally, there are a number of doctoral dissertation in preparation within the Centre or at least under the guidance of one of its members.

1. Doctoral dissertations obtained under the (co-)promotership of a member of the Centre, inside the VUB as well as outside this institution

Inside the VUB

  1. Prof. Dr. F. de Pauw was promoter, together with Prof. Dr. E. Franckx, of the doctoral dissertation at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel of Ahmad Razavi, The Problem of Continental Shelf Delimitation in the Persian Gulf and Related Issues (successfully defended during the academic year 1994/1995). This doctorate was later accepted for publication: Razavi, A., Continental Shelf Delimitation and Related Maritime Issues in the Persian Gulf, The Hague, Nijhoff, 330 pp. (1997).

  2. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was promoter of the doctoral dissertation at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel of Stefaan Smis, A Western Approach to the International Law of Self-determination: Theory and Practice (successfully defended during the academic year 2001/2002). The doctoral commission consisted furthermore of Prof. A. Pauwels.

  3. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was promoter of the doctoral dissertation at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel of Feras Milhem, The Origins and Evolution of the Palestinian Sources of Law (successfully defended during the academic year 2004/2005). The doctoral commission consisted furthermore of Prof. A. Pauwels and Prof. S. Smis.

  4. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was promoter, together with Prof. Dr. W.J. Davey, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, United States of America, of the doctoral dissertation at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel of Kim van der Borght, The World Trade Court: An Analysis of the Legal Nature of the Dispute Settlement System of the World Trade Organisation (successfully defended during the academic year 2004/2005).

  5. Prof. Dr. S. Smis was promoter of the doctoral dissertation of Stephen Sevidzem Kingah, Access to affordable HIV/Aids Medicines in SADC - Cohesence of EC Rules and Policies, co-promoter Prof. Dr. F. Sodesbaum (University of Göteborg) (succesfully defended during the academic year 2008/2009).

  6. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was promoter of the doctoral dissertation at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel of Koen Van den Bossche, Redefining the European Common Fisheries Policy (successfully defended during the academic year 2008/2009). The doctoral commission consisted furthermore of Prof. B. De Schutter, Prof. T. Joris, Prof. S. Mahmoudi, Prof. S. Smis and Prof. A. Soons. Up

Outside the VUB

  1. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was promoter, together with Prof. Dr. J.J. Salmon, Université Libre de Bruxelles, of the doctoral dissertation at the Université Libre de Bruxelles of Nguyen Toan Thang, L'extension artificielle des côtes vers le large et ses conséquences en droit international (successfully defended during the academic year 2005/2006).

  2. Prof. Dr. A. Pauwels was promoter of the doctoral dissertation at the Universiteit Nijmegen, The Netherlands, by Jaïr van der Lijn, Walking the Tightrope: Do UN Peacekeeping Operations Actually Contribute to Durable Peace? (successfully defended during the academic year 2005/2006). Up

2. Members of the Centre invited to form part of national doctoral commissions, inside the VUB as well as outside this institution

Inside the VUB

  1. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel of the doctoral dissertation of Ann Pauwels, Militaire waarnemersmissies, een instrument van de Verenigde Naties voor de beheersing van internationale conflictsituaties: pragmatisme binnen het kader van het Handvest (successfully defended during the academic year 1994/1995).

  2. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel of the doctoral dissertation of Ali Abkar Mahrokhzad, Contracts between States and Foreign Private Investors: Nationalization and Expropriation of Contract Rights by the Host States with Particular Reference to the Jurisprudence of the Iran - United States Claims Tribunal (successfully defended during the academic year 1995/1996).

  3. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel of the doctoral dissertation of Tamara Kovziridze, Hierarchy and Interdependence in Multi-level Structures. Foreign and European Relations of Belgian, German and Austrian Federated Entities (successfully defended during the academic year 2003/2004).

  4. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel of the doctoral dissertation of Alexandre Thys, De uitbating van de oceanen: een driedimensionale visie (successfully defended during the academic year 2003/2004).

  5. Prof. Dr. S. Smis was member of the evaluation commission of the doctoral dissertation of Feras Milhem, The Origins and Evolution of the Palestinian Sources of Law (successfully defended during the academic year 2004/2005).

  6. Prof. Dr. S. Smis was member of the evaluation commission of the doctoral dissertation of Mikano Emmanuel Kiye, The Importance of Witonary law in Africa: A Cameroonian Study (successfully defended during the academic year 2007/2008).

  7. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission in his capacity of President at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel of the doctoral dissertation of Stephen Sevidzem Kingah, Access to Affordable HIV/Aids Medicines in SADC: Coherence of EC Rules and Policies (successfully defended during the academic year 2008/2009). The doctoral commission consisted furthermore of Prof. K. Arts, Prof. S. Gutwirth, Prof. S. Oberthür, Prof. S. Smis and Prof. F. Söderbaum.

  8. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel of the doctoral dissertation of Sigrid Winkler, A Question of Sovereignty? The EU's Policy on Taiwan's Participation in International Organizations (successfully defended during the academic year 2010/2011). The doctoral commission consisted furthermore of Prof. B. Coppieters, Prof. G. Geeraerts, Prof. E. Gross and Prof. H. Halbeisen.

  9. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission in his capacity of Chairman at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel of the doctoral dissertation of Frederic Eggermont, The Changing Role of the European Council in the Institutional Framework of the European Union: Consequences for the European Integration Process (successfully defended during the academic year 2011/2012). The doctoral commission consisted furthermore of Prof. K. De Gucht, Prof. Y. Devuyst, Prof. T. Joris, Prof. K. Lenaerts and Prof. J. Werts. Up

Outside the VUB

  1. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at Ghent University of the doctoral dissertation of Frank Maes, De bescherming van de Noordzee tegen vervuiling door commerciële schepen: internationale rechten en plichten van staten met speciale aandacht voor de Europese statenpraktijk (successfully defended during the academic year 1995/1996).

  2. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at the Université Libre de Bruxelles of the doctoral dissertation of Baelongandi wa Binana, Les conférences maritimes, les pays en développement et le Code de conduite de la CNUCED de 1974 : expérience du Zaïre (report submitted during the academic year 1995/1996).

  3. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at Ghent University of the doctoral dissertation of Benedict Thomas Mapunda, The Law of the Sea in Tanzania: An Assessment of the Implementation of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (successfully defended during the academic year 1999/2000).

  4. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at the University of Antwerp of the doctoral dissertation of Marc De Decker, Juridische aspecten van codificatie en harmonisering van de Europese internationale rivierenregimes (successfully defended during the academic year 2002/2003).

  5. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at Ghent University of the doctoral dissertation of Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba, The Exclusive Economic Zone: A Study of the Apporaches for Its Utilization and Control with Specific Reference to the Kenyan Exclusive Economic Zone (successfully defended during the academic year 2002/2003).

  6. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at the Université Libre de Bruxelles of the doctoral dissertation of Kalala Tshibangu, Les destinataires des résolutions au Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies autres que les Etats (report submitted during the academic year 2005/2006 and a second report in 2006/2007).

  7. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at Ghent University of the doctoral dissertation of Marc Van der Putten, The United Nations and Regional Organizations in the Field of International Peace and Security (report submitted during the academic year 2006/2007).

  8. Prof. Dr. S. Smis was member of the evaluation commission of the doctoral thesis of Christophe Van der Beken: Decentralisatie en etnische diversiteit in Afrika met casestudy Ethiopië, Universiteit Gent (successfully defended during the academic year 2006/2007).

  9. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at Ghent University of the doctoral dissertation of Fidèle Zegbe Zegs, Le recours à la force comme moyen de règlement des conflits entre les Etats africains : un moyen efficace? (successfully defended during the academic year 2006/2007).

  10. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at Ghent University of the doctoral dissertation of Paul Musili Wambua, Governance of the Forgotten Province: A Critical Appraisal of the Policy, Legal and Institutional Frameworks for the Control and Management of Marine Resources Within Kenya's Maritime Zones (successfully defended during the academic year 2008/2009). Up

3. Members of the Centre invited as international experts to form part of foreign doctoral commissions

  1. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, of the doctoral dissertation of Patrick Vranken, Conflits possibles dans la zone internationale des fonds marins et les eaux et espace aérien surjacents entre Etats parties et Etats non parties à la Convention des Nations Unies sur le droit de la mer (successfully defended during the academic year 1993/1994).

  2. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, of the doctoral dissertation of Alex Oude Elferink, State Practice and Maritime Delimitation Law: A Case Study of the Russian Federation and Its Neighbours (successfully defended during the academic year 1994/1995). This doctorate was later accepted for publication: Oude Elferink, A.G., The Law of Maritime Boundary Delimitation: A Case Study of the Russian Federation, Dordrecht, Nijhoff, 431 pp. (1994).

  3. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, of the doctoral dissertation of Erik Jaap Molenaar, Coastal State Jurisdiction over Vessel-source Pollution (successfully defended during the academic year 1995/1996). This doctorate was later accepted for publication: Molenaar, E.J., Coastal State Jurisdiction Over Vessel-source Pollution, The Hague, Kluwer Law International, 632 pp. (1994).

  4. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at the University of Uppsala, Sweden, of the doctoral dissertation of Katrin Metcalf, Activities in Space: Appropriation or Use? (successfully defended during the academic year 1998/1999). This doctorate was later accepted for publication: Metcalf, K., Activities in Space: Appropriation or Use?, Iustus-Förl., Uppsala, 416 pp. (1999).

  5. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, of the doctoral dissertation of Raymond Guy, The Relevance of Non-legal, Technical and Scientific Concepts in the Interpretation and Application of the Law of the Sea: An Analysis of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (report submitted during the academic year 1999/2000).

  6. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at the University of Oslo, Norway, of the doctoral dissertation of Douglas Brubaker, Environmental Protection of Arctic Waters: Specific Focus on the Russian Northern Sea Route (report submitted during the academic year 2001/2002).

  7. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was opponent and member of the evaluation commission at the University of Lapland, Finland, of the doctoral dissertation of Timo Koivurova, Environmental Impact Assessment in the Arctic (successfully defended during the academic year 2001/2002). This doctorate was later accepted for publication: Koivurova, T., Environmental Impact Assessment in the Arctic: A Study of International Legal Norms, Aldershot, Ashgate, 448 pp (2002).

  8. Prof. Dr. S. Smis was External Examiner of the doctoral dissertation of Kalingamudalige Ruwan Prodeep An Perera, Comparative Analysis of the WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism with other Mechanisms of Settling International Trade and Investment Disputes - A Protectionist View, University of Hull, United Kingdom (successfully defended during the academic year 2002/2003).

  9. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at the University of Stockholm, Sweden, of the doctoral dissertation of Katak Malla, The Legal Regime of International Watercourses: Progress and Paradigms Regarding Uses and Environmental Protection (successfully defended during the academic year 2004/2005).

  10. Prof. Dr. S. Smis was external examiner of the evaluation commission of the doctoral thesis of Fahad A.H. Abuhimed: The Rules of Procedure of Commercial Arbitration in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Comparative Study), University of Hull, United Kingdom (public defence planned for 2007).

  11. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at the University of Utrecht, the Netherlands, of the doctoral dissertation of Pieter Johannes Jacobus van der Kruit, Maritime Drug Interdiction (successfully defended during the academic year 2004/2005). This doctorate was later accepted for publication: van der Kruit, P.J.J., Maritime Drug Interdiction in International Law, s.l., s.n., 530 pp. (2007).

  12. Prof. Dr. S. Smis is external member of the commission d’encadrement of the doctoral thesis of George Mulumbeni Munyenga, Le regionalisme sécuritaire de l’Afrique australe à la lumière de la SADC (Faculté des sciences sociales (Département des relations internationals), (Université de Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2006 - ).

  13. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission at the University René Descartes - Paris V, Paris, France, of the doctoral dissertation of Kayana Manivong, Contribution à la recherche sur l'effectivité du pavillon en droit international (successfully defended during the academic year 2008/2009).

  14. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was member of the evaluation commission in his capacity of rapporteur at the University of Paris Sud XI, Paris, France, of the doctoral dissertation of Sarra Sefrioui, Les îles dans la délimitation maritime (successfully defended during the academic year 2011/2012). The doctoral commission consisted furthermore of Prof. D. Dormoy, Prof. R. El Houdaïgui, Prof. S. El Sayegh and Prof. M. Kamga. Up

4. Doctoral dissertations presently under preparation either at the Centre or under the supervision of one of its members

Inside the Centre

  1. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx is promoter at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel of the doctoral dissertation being prepared by Dinh Ngoc Linh, The Problem of Fisheries in Enclosed and Semi-Enclosed Seas and the Role of Regional Fisheries Organizations Therein (1999 - ).

  2. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx is promoter at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel of the doctoral dissertation being prepared by Cédric Van Assche, De juridische waarde van de latere wijzigende praktijk van verdragspartijen (2000 - ).

  3. Prof. Dr. S. Smis is promoter of the doctoral dissertation being prepared by Patrick Huyghe, Heeft het Handboek van Sanremo over het internationaal recht dat toepasselijk is op gewapende conflicten op zee de statenpraktijk ter zake beïnvloedt? (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 2008 - ).

  4. Prof. Dr. S. Smis is promoter of the doctoral dissertation being prepared by Rezeq Sammoudi, Belligerent Occupation. A Comparaison between Irak And Palestine '(Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 2008 - ).

  5. Prof. Dr. S. Smisis promoter of the doctoral dissertation being prepared by Christine Jansssens, Aansprakelijkeheid van Internationale organisaties voor mensenrechtsverhoudingen (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 2008 - ).

  6. Prof. Dr. S. Smis is promoter of the doctoral dissertation being prepared by Anita Wamki, The Role of ECOWAS in Mainting Peace and Security in West Africa (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 2008 - )

  7. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx is promoter at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel of the doctoral dissertation being prepared by Nkeiru Scotcher, Whither the Freedom of Navigation in the Exclusive Economic Zone: A Jurisdictional Analysis of Legislative and Enforcement Measures by States of the Pacific Islands Forum (2009 - ).

  8. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx is promoter at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel of the doctoral dissertation being prepared by Tran Van Thuy, Freedom of Navigation in the Exclusive Economic Zone: The EU Approach (2009 - ).

  9. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx is promoter at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel of the doctoral dissertation being prepared by Marco Benatar, Parochial International Law? Assessing the Impact of National Legal Culture (2010 - ).

  10. Prof. Dr. E. Franckx is promoter at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel of the doctoral dissertation being prepared by Laura Boone, The Legal Regime of Navigation in the Arctic: New Challenges (2010 - ).Up

Outside the Centre

  1. Prof. Dr. A. Pauwels is promoter at the Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen of the doctoral dissertation being prepared by Hans Schmeet, Verkiezingswaarnemingen van de OVSE. Het ontwikkelen van een meetinstrument voor het objectiveren van deze verkiezingswaarneming (1998 - ).

  2. Prof. Dr. S. Smis is co-promoter of the doctoral dissertation being prepared by Gillian Mathys, Borderland(s) in motion: Labor, Migration and Borders in Lake ivu Region during the Colonial Period (Universiteit Gent, 2007 - ).Up

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