1. Completed Projects
"Strengthening Democracy in Societies
in Transition" -- This 3 year project started at the
end of 1993 and was financed by the Flemish
Community, Department of Economy for a total amount of 10
million BEF. A full-time research assistant (J.-M. Henkaerts)
was appointed at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel within
the framework of this project. Its subject concerned mainly human
rights and the law of the sea, and the situation in Poland, Romania
and Czechoslovakia was closely studied. Prof. Dr. Frits Gorlé
was promoter of this project, Prof. Dr. Erik Franckx
served as co-promoter.
Legal consultancy for the Federal
Ministry of Public Health and Environment in order to support
the Management Unit of the Mathematical
Model of the North Sea relating to certain aspects of marine
pollution. This 1 million BEF project was active for one year
(1995). A half-time scientific researcher (D. Dielen) was
appointed by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Prof. Dr.
Erik Franckx was promoter of this project.
"Boundary and Cross-boundary Maritime
Legal Cooperation and the Strengthening of the Rule of Law in
the Eastern Baltic Sea" -- This 3 year project, which
started in October 1997, was sponsored by the Flemish
Community, Department of Economy for a total of 12 million
BEF. A full-time research assistant (A. Pauwels) was appointed
within the framework of this project, which dealt primarily with
coastal state jurisdiction relating to marine pollution, emphasising
on the situation in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Prof.
Dr. Erik Franckx was promoter of this project.
"Training in Aquaculture and International
Law of the Sea in South Africa and the SADC Region" --
This project had a duration of 21 months and started at the end
of 1997. It was financed by the Flemish
Community, Department of Education for a total amount of 6
million BEF. This project, of which the 'law of the sea' topic
was meant to result in a multimedia course on fisheries law, was
co-ordinated by the University of Ghent. Prof. Dr. Erik Franckx
was co-promoter of this project.
"The Direct Application of Norms of International
Law in the National Legal Sysem of Russia: From Theory to Practice"
-- This project had a duration of one and a half year and
started early 1998. It was financed by the Flemish
Community, Department of Education for a total amount of 2.7
million BEF. A part-time research assistant (S. Smis) was
appointed at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel for this
purpose. The project mainly concerns the co-operation with the
law faculty of the University of Moscow (MGU). Prof. Dr. Erik
Franckx was promoter of this project.
"Rethinking the Nation State in Central
Africa" -- This "concerted research action"
of 4 years, which started on October 1, 2000, was sponsored by
the Flemish
Government through the Research
& Development Department of the VUB for a total amount
of 25 million BEF. Four researchers were employed by the Vrije
Universiteit Brussel under this project (S. Smis, T. Trefon,
V. Vaesen/A. De Bie, and S. Van Hoyweghen).
This project concerned primarily interdisciplinary research on
the topic of failed states in Africa, and this from an economical,
historical, juridical and political perspective. Prof. Dr. Erik
Franckx was promoter-spokesperson of this project, Prof. Dr. Jan
Gorus was co-promoter. Prof. Dr. Pierre de Maret (ULB), Prof.
Dr. Marc Despontin and Prof. Dr. Guy Vanthemsche served as experts
who were each scientifically responsible for a particular aspect
of the research. This project ran in close cooperation with the
Brussels Centre of African
Studies.
"International Boundaries and Boundary
Problems in Africa: A Legal and Political Analysis" (in
Dutch) -- This project of 4 years, which started on February
1, 2001, was sponsored by the Fund
for Scientific Research - Flanders (Belgium) for a total amount
of 8.5 million BEF. One full-time researcher was employed by the
Vrije Universiteit Brussel under this project (F. Nkongho).
The project provided one researcher the possibility to prepare
a doctoral dissertation in this domain. Prof. Dr. Erik Franckx
was promoter of this project.
Within the framework of the policy advisory work
of the Fund for
Scientific Research - Flanders (Belgium), a punctual advise
was requested in order to determine the international legal consequences
of the financing by the Belgian government of civil organizations
in partner countries in a direct manner. The results of this project,
which is funded for about 0.5 million BEF, have been submitted
by the beginning of 2001 to the Secretary of State for International
Cooperation. Prof. Dr. Erik Franckx was promoter of
this punctual advise. The latter, entitled "Volkenrechtelijke
consequenties van het direct financieren door de Belgische overheid
van civiele organisaties in partnerlanden" (International
Legal Implications of the Financiering in a Direct Manner by the
Belgian Government of Civic Organizations in Partner Countries)
(45 pp.), was presented on January 31, 2001.
"Strengthening the Cooperation on the
Protection of the Marine Environment in the Baltic Sea by Means
of the Establishment of 'Marine Parks'" -- This "exploratory
international cooperation project" of 2 years, which started
on January 1, 2001, was sponsored by the Flemish
Government through the Research
& Development Department of the VUB for a total amount
of approximately 2 million BEF. One researcher was employed
by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel under this project
(D. Vervoort). The latter intended to conduct preparatory
research in order to stimulate participation in an EU-research
program in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Malgosia Fitzmaurice, Queen
Mary and Westfield College, London, United Kingdom, and Prof.
Dr. Göran Lysén, University
of Uppsala, Sweden. Prof. Dr. Erik Franckx was promoter of
this project.
Co-opromotor VLIR Punctueel Beleidsadvies “Juridisch
Kader om Laakbare handelspraktijken in Conflictregio’s tegen
te gaan” (Legal Framework to limit reprehensible commercial
practices in conflict regions). The research project was funded
for six months and is conducted in co-operation with Professors
Philip Nauwelaerts and Koen De Feyter of the University of Antwerpen
(Belgium) and Kim Van der Borght of the University of Hull (UK).
One researcher was appointed for one month. Budget 12.500 euro.
"Strengthening the Cooperation on the
Protection of the Marine Environment in the Eastern Baltic Sea"
-- This project of three years, which started on February
1, 2001, was sponsored by the Flemish
Community, Department of Economy for a total amount of about
11 million BEF. One full-time researcher was employed by
the Vrije Universiteit Brussel under this project (A.
Pauwels). It mainly focussed on state practice relating to marine
parks in the eastern Baltic Sea, namely that of Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Poland and Russia. Prof. Dr. Erik Franckx was promoter
of this project.
Legal consultancy for the Development Law Service
of the Legal Office of the Food
and Agriculture Organization F.A.O. The aim of the consultancy
was to study fisheries control related issues such as, joint and
reciprocal enforcement use of dedicated air and surface platforms,
the role of regional registers, powers of authorised officers,
national and sub-regional procedures for prosecution of fishermen,
evidence issues, penalties, etc., institutional framework, and
legislative drafting options. Special attention was given to the
national legal systems of about eight states and the practice
of a similar number of sub-regional fisheries organizations. Prof. Dr. Erik
Franckx was promoter of this consultancy. The results of this
consultancy, a report entitled "Fisheries Enforcement - Related
Legal and Institional Issues : National, Subregional or Regional
Perspectives" (201 pp.), were submitted on October 11,
2001. Early 2002, the entire report was published in the FAO Legislative
Study-series of the Development Law Service of the FAO Legal Office
(N°71, 180 pp.).
"Curriculum and
Methodology Development in the Areas of International and European
Law" -- This project, which had a duration of one
and a half year, started in the autumn of 2001. It was financed
by the Flemish
Community, Department of Education for a total amount of more
than 3 million BEF. The project mainly concerned the co-operation
with the law faculties of the St. Petersburg State University
(Department of International Law), Moscow State Institute of International
Relations (Institute of European Law), the Russian Academy of
Sciences (Institute of State and Law), and the Russian Association
of International Law. Prof. Dr. Erik Franckx was promoter of this
project, Prof. Dr. Tony Joris the co-promoter.
The Centre for International Law was the Host
Institution for the University Foreign Francqui Chair 2001-2002.
"Coastal State Jurisdiction Relating to Marine Pollution"
was the theme under which the Centre for International Law of
the Vrije Universiteit Brussel served as Host-Institution
for this Chair. The latter was organized in cooperation with the
Maritime Institute of the Ghent University. Prof. em. Dermott
Devine of the University of Cape Town, South Africa, holder of
this Chair, was during 6 months in close contact with Belgian
specialists in this area, creating that way a class
of excellence. He also presented a number of lectures. This
project, amounting to about 2 million BEF, was terminated
in May 2002 with an international
workshop at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
"The Future of the Nation State in Africa:
A Case-study of Central Africa" -- This project, which
concerned a demand for the financing of an international congress
in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, was accepted by the
Fund for Scientific
Research - Flanders (Belgium). A credit of 20 000 Euro
was granted for the realization of this project. The congress
took place on May 7-9, 2003 at the Karavia Hotel, Lubumbashi,
Democratic Republic of Congo.
Prof. Dr. Erik Franckx was promoter of the project
which aimed to employ Dr. Maurice Kamga as a postdoctoral researcher
during one year at the Centre of International Law. A credit of
about 39 000 Euro was granted by the Francqui Foundation,
after a public appeal to all presidents of the different departments
at the VUB. The project started on February 1, 2005 and ended
on January 31, 2006.
"MAREDFlow" -- This project,
which started in May 2004, had a duration of 2 years, and was
funded by the European Commission for a total amount of 132 000
Euro. It was part of the project "Regions of Knowledge"
of the European Parliament, which started in August 2003. The
project "MAREDFlow" was submitted by the Ministry of
Flanders, Administration Waterways and Marine Affairs, iin cooperation
with the Flanders Marine Institute, and was named "Vlaanderen,
Maritieme Kennisregio". Prof. Dr. E. Franckx was a member
of the steering committee.
Prof. Dr. Stefaan Smis was promotor of a Project
funded for a total amount of 6.750 Euro by the Belgian Ministry
of Foreign Affairs to publish a journal on the relationship between
human rights and other domains of international law (Human Rights
& International Legal Discourse). The project started in 2006.
: “Accountability for Human Rights
Violations by International Organizations” -- This
project was sponsored by the Vlaamse Inter-universitaire Raad-Ontwikkelingssamenwerking
for a total amount of 19.910 Euro. (The conference took place
on 16-17 March 2007).
"The European Policy towards Regional
Integration in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Legal Analysis of Its Formulation,
Implication and Implementation." -- This project started
in February 2004 and was sponsored by the Institute
for European Studies (IES/VUB) for a total amount of 150 000 Euro.
One full-time researcher will be employed by the Vrije
Universiteit Brussel under this project (S. Kingah).
Prof. Dr. Stefaan Smis was promoter of this project.
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2. Ongoing Projects
"Redefining the European Common Fisheries
Policy" -- This project of 4 years, which started on
March 1, 2003, is sponsored by the Institute
for European Studies (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
for a total amount of 150 000 Euro. One full-time researcher
will be employed by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel
under this project (K. Van Den Bossche). The project
provides one researcher the possibility to prepare a doctoral
dissertation in this domain. Prof. Dr. Erik Franckx is promoter
of this project.
"Networks of Governance in a Failed
State: The Democratic Republic of Congo in a Regional Perspective"
-- This "concerted research action" of 5 years,
which started during the month of December 2003, is sponsored
by the Flemish
Government through the Research
& Development Department of the VUB for a total amount
of approximately 745 000 Euro. Three researchers are
employed by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel under this
project (S. Smis, T. Trefon and S. Van Hoyweghen). Prof Dr. Erik
Franckx is promoter of this project. Prof. Dr. Jan Gorus is co-promoter.
This project runs in close cooperation with the Brussels
Centre of African Studies.
"The European Union’s Policy on
Greater China: Conceptualizing the Interaction Pattern in a Multi-Level
Institutional Setting" -- This "concentrated research
action" wich has a duration of 4 years, started in March
2006 and is funded by the Flemish
Government through the Research
& Development Department of the VUB for a total amount
of about 530 000 Euro. Prof. Dr. Erik Franckx is co-promoter of
this project.
“Birzeit University Institute of Law
towards a Peaceful Future.” -- The project is for four
years and started in September 2004. It is sponsored by the Vlaamse
Inter-universitaire Raad-Ontwikkelingssamenwerkingfor a total
amount of 301.927,5 Euro. Prof. Dr. Stefaan Smis, Prof. Dr. Erik
Franckx and Prof. Dr. Tony Joris are co-promoters.
“Collection et publication du premier
volume (1960-1980) d’un recueil des traités internationales
en vigueur en R.D. Congo” (publication of a treaty
series for the Democratic Republic of the Congo). -- This project
is for two years and started in 2006. It is sponsored by the Vlaamse
Inter-universitaire Raad-Ontwikkelingssamenwerking.
"Project wetenschapsmethodologie"
-- This project is for two years and started in 2007. It is sponsored
by the Vrije Universiteit Brussels for a total amount
of 11.000 Euro. One researcher has been appointed for two years
(the project is for two years and started in 2007). Prof. Dr.
Stefaan Smis is co-promote and Guy Vanthemsche is promoter of
this project.
"Redefining the European Common Fisheries
Policy". This project of 6 months is a continuation
of the project mentioned above with the same name and will start
in 2008 with a budget of 28.915 Euro, sponsored by the R&D
Department of the VUB. This will allow the researcher to finish
his work. Prof. Dr. Erik Franckx is promotor of this project
“Rekenschapsplichtigheid voor mensenrechtenschendingen
door internationale organisaties (Responsibility for Human Rights
Violations by International Organizations)." -- This
project was financed by FWO (Foundation for Scientific Research).
One researcher will be appointed at the KU Leuven under supervision
of Jan Wouters and one at the VUB under supervision of Stefaan
Smis (the projects runs for four years and started in January
2008). Prof. Dr. Stefaan Smis is co-promoter, the promoter is
Prof. Jan Wouters and the other co-promotor prof. Eva Brems.
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