Title of Honorary Doctorate of VU Awarded to the President of the EU Court of Justice, Professor Koen Lenaerts

On 25 October, the President of the Court of Justice of the European Union, the Belgian lawyer Professor Koen Lenaerts, was awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa of Vilnius University (VU). The scholar was honored for his significant contribution to the creation of the European legal system for Lithuania, as part of the European community, and for promoting the name of Vilnius University in the European Union.

The solemn ceremony of conferring an honorary doctorate on Professor Koen Lenaerts from VU was attended by Jan Jambon, Prime Minister of the Flemish Government of Belgium, rectors of several universities in the Kingdom of Belgium, and Ewelina Dobrowolska, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania.

"It is an honor for me to become an honorary doctor of this prestigious, oldest university in Eastern Europe, world-renowned for its academic excellence. The values of Vilnius University are the same as those of the European Union stands for – openness to diversity of ideas and views, respect for human rights, and diversity of identities," said Prof. K. Lenaerts.

VU rector prof. Rimvydas Petrauskas was immensely delighted that the university is admitting a widely respected legal scholar to its academic fold.

"This ceremony is not only a recognition of your exceptional achievements, but it also confirms your close ties with Vilnius University. Baron Koen Lenaerts, professor of European Law at the Catholic University of Leuven and President of The Court of Justice of the European Union, your academic and public work has significantly contributed to the stability and strength of the European legal system. This title of Doctor Honoris Causa of Vilnius University is awarded not only as an appreciation of your academic person but also in recognition of you as an exceptional citizen of Europe," said VU rector

The lawyer maintains close relations with the VU Faculty of Law, participates in scientific conferences organized by it. He has contributed to the content creation of the periodical scientific journal of the Faculty of Law "Teisė. Mokslo darbai" (Law. Scientific Works). He has helped Lithuania and Vilnius University with consultations, is actively interested in the activities of the VU Faculty of Law, and constantly fosters cooperation with doctoral students of the VU Faculty of Law, and interns coming to the Court to undergo their training.
The scholar, during his career, made a significant contribution to the development of the idea of European Union integration and the interpretation and development of the essence and objectives of EU law. A particularly significant contribution of the professor is to the analysis of the development of the European judicial system. He carried out numerous studies of the practice of the Court of Justice.

Lenaerts is a member or one of the founders of numerous foundations, organizations, and institutions operating in the fields of law, culture, art, social area, as well as the fields of sports and charity. He is a member of the London Academia Europaea, a member of the advisory board of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, a member of the advisory board of the European Center for Law and Governance of University College London, a member of the Foundation Council of the Academy of European Law (ERA) in Trier, member of the Board of Trustees of the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, member of the editorial board or scientific committee of various law journals such as Europarecht or European Public Law.