European Center of Economic and Financial Law (Decision of the Panteion University Senate of 8 July 2010) By-laws Article 1 Establishment-Operation (a) The European Center of Economic and Financial Law (ECEFIL) is hereby established pursuant to Senate decision of 28 November 2005 regarding the General By-laws Governing Centers. (b) The above Center shall enjoy administrative independence and shall be supervised by the Section of International and European Institutions of the Department of International and European Studies. Article 2 Purpose (a) The purpose of the Center is to: Promote research and the dissemination of scientific knowledge in the fields of International, European and Comparative Economic and Financial Law, Provide advisory services in the fields of International, European and Comparative Economic and Financial Law. Support the postgraduate studies on International Economic, Financial and Banking Law of the Postgraduate Programme in International and European Studies, and to conduct educational and training programmes on International, European and Comparative Economic and Financial Law. Develop partnerships with Universities and scientific organizations, at home and abroad, in pursuit of any aim relating to the above. (b) To fulfil its purpose, the Center shall: Prepare and carry out research and educational programmes Deliver opinions on matters of its competence Organise seminars, conferences and other national and international events Procure the necessary technical equipment Contribute to the enrichment of the Panteion University main library Establish a Documentation Center, in a shelf-contained area within the University, linked with electronic data bases, and shall subscribe to electronic and printed publications, relevant to the Center s purpose Create and maintain a website, and disseminate scientific knowledge by any suitable means Perform any other activity in general that is relevant to its purpose.
(c) At the end of each academic year, the Center shall submit a research and scientific report, which will be subject to the Senate s approval. Article 3 Disciplines The Center seeks to achieve its research and educational aims in the fields of International, European and Comparative Economic Law, and notably in: The Law of International Trade and State Subsidies; The Law of International Investment and dispute settlement by means of arbitration; International and European, Monetary, Financial and Banking Law, and European Business Law. Article 4 Administration (a) Management Committee The Center shall be managed by a five-member Management Committee appointed by the Senate on proposal of the Section of International and European Institutions and recommendation of the General Assembly of the Department of International and European Studies. One of the four Professorsmembers of the Management Committee may be a Professor Emeritus of the University. The fifth Management Committee member shall be a doctoral candidate of the Department of International and European Studies. The Management Committee shall have a three-year renewable term. The Governing Body shall meet upon invitation of the Director. The Director shall also be obliged to convene a meeting if at least three members so request. The Management Committee shall be in quorum if at least three members are present. It shall make decisions by majority of members present which cannot be fewer than three. The Management Committee shall decide on any issue pertaining to the Center s purpose, upon recommendation of the Director. (b) Director The Senate shall appoint one of the four Professors-members of the Management Committee as Director, on proposal of the Section of International and European Institutions and recommendation of the General Assembly of the Department of International and European Studies. The Director shall have a three-year term, renewable by decision of the General Assembly of the Department of International and European Studies.
The Director shall head the Center, mainly exercising the following competencies: Convene the Management Committee, prepare the meeting agenda and chair the proceedings. Recommend distinguished academics of international reputation, as members of the International Advisory Body, and cooperate with such Body. Represent the Center and recommend the activities described in Article 2, as well as any other relevant activity. Recommend and implement the Management Committee s decisions with regard to the Center s organization and staffing. c) Scientific Director The Management Committee may assign the duties of Scientific Director to one of its members. The Scientific Director recommends and implements the Management Committee s decisions with respect to medium-term research planning and individual research programmes. Article 5 International Advisory Body (a) For the efficient operation and international visibility of the Center, an international advisory body shall be set up to assist the Center s management and propose ways and means to promote and achieve its goals. (b) The International Advisory Body shall meet once every year, upon the Director s invitation, with the participation of the Director, who will also chair the meeting, and the other Management Committee members. Proposals agreed in the meeting shall be included in the Center s planning. Article 6 Funding (a) The Center shall be funded by all sorts of donations and grants, as well as income from its activities. (b) The University shall offer a 1,000.00 start-up grant to the Center. (c) The Center s budget shall be approved by the Management Committee, implemented by the Director, and ratified by the Panteion University Research Committee.
Article 7 Management (a) A reserve fund shall be kept for the Center in the Research Funds Special Account (ELKE). This reserve fund comes from the Center s research activity or other resources. According to the Management and Funding Guide, ELKE shall be in charge of managing the Center s income and expenses. (b) ELKE shall conduct payments (expenses) from the reserve fund, as instructed either by the Director (for amounts up to 3,000.00 plus VAT), or by the Management Committee (for amounts exceeding 3,000.00 plus VAT). (c) Expenses in the framework of a specific research or study, shall be performed following a recommendation of the person in charge of the study, approved by the Scientific Director. 15% of the Research or Studies budget goes to ELKE, pursuant to the Management and Funding Guide. Article 8 Human Resources The Center shall be staffed, on priority, by Professors of the Section of International and European Institutions, Post-doctoral Researchers, Doctoral Candidates and Postgraduate Students of the Department of International and European Studies, as well as, as the case may be, by Academic Associates renowned in the Center s field, from the Greek and International university and research community. Article 9 Dissolution (a) The Center shall be dissolved upon decision of the Senate by qualified majority of 2/3 of its members, following a concurring opinion of the General Assembly of the Department of International and European Studies, taken by 2/3 majority of its members. (b) In the event that the Center does not submit a research and scientific report for two consecutive years, or fails to show any corresponding work, its dissolution by virtue of a Senate decision could be examined, without the above qualified majority requirements. (c) The Management Committee may also recommend, with a 2/3 majority, the dissolution of the Center to the General Assembly of the Department of International and European Studies, in which case, the procedure under para. (a) above in this Article shall be followed.
Article 10 Review of the Center s By-laws The Center s General By-laws may be reviewed or amended by decision of the Senate taken by a 2/3 majority of its members, following a recommendation by the Management Committee, and an opinion by the General Assembly of the Department of International and European Studies. Article 11 Transitional provision The Center s first Management Committee shall be made up of: Constantine STEPHANOU, Professor, Dept IES, Panteion University; Christos GORTSOS, Associate Professor, Dept IES, Panteion University; Maria PAPANTONI, Assistant Professor, Dept IES, Panteion University; Christina LIVADA, Lecturer, Law School, University of Athens; Anastasia TSOUTSIA, Doctoral Candidate, Dept IES, Panteion University. Professor Constantine STEPHANOU is appointed as the Center s first Director.