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European Flags in front of the Berlaymont - Light and Shadow

Originally uploaded under a Creative Commons license by TPCOM

September 30, 2007 was a decisive day in the history of Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar. We were visited by Prof. Dr. Stephan Hobe of the International Air and Space Law Institute, University of Cologne. He had come to India to attend an International Conference in Hyderabad, after which, he was invited by the director to speak to our students in Gandhinagar, which he graciously accepted. He is also one of the honorary professors at GNLU.

Dr. Hobe specialises in a variety of legal fields - Public International Law, European Law, International Public Law and Air and Space Law. On this occasion, however, he chose to deliver a short lecture on the European Union, it’s constitution, the Maastricht treaty, freedom of trade and movement, the union into a common currency - the ubiquitous Euro and a gradual unifying process that has still not attained a concrete structure.

His skills as an eloquent speaker were on display as he had the class in rapt attention for almost an hour and half. With immaculate display of verbal pyrotechnics and visual mannerisms, he spoke of Germany and France’s imperative position in the Union and of Great Britain and Switzerland. The controversies surrounding the admittance of Turkey and the Russian Federation were approached with discretion and diplomatic positure.

Professor Mani, advised us to abandon our “Anglo-Saxon” paradigm as the European Union had great prospects for emerging professionals like lawyers.

At the end of the class, he was kind enough to give me one of his business cards. I can easily add that this was one of the best lectures we have ever received at the Gujarat National Law University, and for this we would remain indebted to Prof. Hobe. It was a pleasure to have him with us!