The Master of European Legal Studies (MELS) opened the 2026-2027 academic year on 24 September 2026, bringing together students from the first and second years of the programme for a joint rentrée.
The event also marked the start of the 2026-2028 cohort, welcoming the new students including four scholarship students. The MELS Scholarships, funded by the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, play an important role in enabling professionals to deepen their expertise in EU law and contribute to European integration in their home countries. The new cohort reflects MELS’s international outlook and its commitment to developing knowledge and expertise in European Union law.
Claudio Matera, Co-Director MELS and EIPA Deputy Director General, Cristina Mariottini, Co-Director MELS, and Igor Dizdarevic, Lecturer of EU Law, led the introductions and presentations, giving students an opportunity to get to know the programme, meet fellow participants and prepare for the academic year ahead. The event concluded with an informal apéro on the terrace.
Developing expertise in European Union law
A joint programme of the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) and the European University Centre of Nancy (CEU – University of Lorraine), MELS provides an in-depth understanding of EU law, combining academic foundations with practical insights from European institutions and experienced practitioners.
As Cristina Mariottini explains:
“The MELS offers a flexible methodology which adapts to the needs of any professional willing to acquire a comprehensive expertise in the EU Institutions and in Union law.”
The programme’s impact is reflected in the experiences of its graduates. Corina Moroi, a MELS alumna from the Republic of Moldova and Counsellor at her country’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, highlights how the programme strengthened her connection to the European project:
“MELS provided me with the legal knowledge, confidence, and broader perspective needed to contribute to Moldova’s European future.”
Edita Velić, whose work in Bosnia and Herzegovina focuses on policymaking and European integration, similarly emphasises the practical value of her studies:
“The programme strengthened my ability to translate European legal standards into concrete, credible policy proposals and measurable institutional progress.”
With the new academic year underway, MELS welcomes its students to another year of learning, international exchange and professional development in European Union law.
