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What
is the European Law Moot Court Competition?
The European Law Moot Court Competition is a traditional moot
- i.e. simulated court - competition, in which teams of students
prepare written pleadings with respect to a problem of European
law and present their arguments in oral proceedings before
the Court of Justice ("the Court of Justice").
The Case is set each year under the auspices of the European
Law Moot Court Society ("the Society").
The Competition takes place annually and is bi-lingual, French
and English being the official languages.
What
are the Objects of the Competition?
The
objects are to: promote awareness of European law, promote
expertise in the practise of European law, especially for
students, provide practical experience preparing and arguing
cases before the Court of Justice, provide a forum for the
discussion of questions of current legal, social and practical
significance emerging from European integration and the legal
and political changes in Europe.
Official
Rules
It
is important that the Official Rules are read carefully before
entering the Competition. Please note the 2004 / 2005 amendments
to the Official Rules
How
does the Competition Work?
The Competition consists of three stages, one written and
two oral:
The
Written Stage
The written stage takes place in September - November each
year. Teams from Universities from any
Country worldwide prepare submissions setting out arguments
on behalf of both the Applicant and Defendant in the proceedings
before the Court of Justice "invented" in the Case.
The written submissions are sent to a panel of judges made
up of the professors, judges, lawyers or Commission representatives
who will, during the second stage, act as Judges of the Court
of Justice in the Competition. The pleadings are assessed
according to criteria established by the Society and set out
in the Rules.
The best 48 teams are selected on the basis of their
written submissions and invited to attend a Regional Final.
The Regional Finals represent the second stage of the Competition.
The
Regional Finals
Four Regional Finals, which are in effect semi-finals, are
held in February each year. The location of each varies from
year to year. In 2005, they will take place in Madrid (Spain),
Istanbul (Turkey), Goteborg (Sweden) and New York (USA).
Teams are required to present their arguments to a panel of
eight Judges sitting as the Court of Justice.
Ten teams are sent to each Regional of which only one will
proceed to the third stage, the All European Final in Luxembourg.
The
All European Final
The All European Final takes place at the Court of Justice
in March each year before Judges from the Court of Justice
and the Court of First Instance. The four winning teams from
the Regional Finals present their arguments orally to the
Court and the winner is declare after deliberation by the
Court.
How
to enter the Competition checklist:
Please
follow these guidelines strictly and bear in mind the following
information,
1)
Select a team of maximum four students;
2) Each University can register as many teams as they wish;
3) Teams originating from Universities from any country worldwide
are welcome to participate;
4) Register Online  ;
5) Download Return Sheet from the web ;
6) Send an e-mail to the OT asking for the bank account details
for the European Law Moot Court Society;
7) Transfer an entrance fee of 50 EURO per team, no later
than November 1, 2004 to the European Law Moot Court Society.
Please beware that the ELMCS should receive 50 EURO, meaning
that you have to pay all the bank charges or your registration
can not be accepted. Furthermore, please remember to mention
the name of your University at the bank transfer, for tracking
purposes.
8) Send the return sheet and copy of the proof of bank transfer
by regular post to the OT for backup purposes to the following
adress:
European
Law Moot Court Society
Apartado
52103
1700 Lisboa
Portugal
PLEASE
NOTE that the registration procedure is only completed
when you register online AND send the written return sheet
and proof of transfer of the participation fee by regular
post for backup purposes. The ELMCS will only accept payment
of fees by bank transfer.
9) Identification Number will be sent to you by e-mail by
the Organising Team a few days before the deadline for sending
in the written pleadings. Only the identification number must
appear on the written pleadings.
10) Deadline for written pleadings to be submitted is 15 November
2004.
11) The results of the written stage are published on the
web in early January, no later than January 15th.
Other
relevant information:
The
teams who qualify for one Regional final and the All European
Final will pay the Regional Final participation fee and the
All European Final participation fee.
The
Regional final fees are as reduced as possible, have not been
raised, and are the following:
Each
student: 200 EURO
Each coach (maximum 1 per team): 250 EURO
Each Guest: 300 EURO
The
fee is paid to the OT upon arrival to the regional final and
entitles you to the following:
- Welcome
reception;
- 3
nights hotel accomodation with your team;
- Access
to the full programme;
- Coffee
Breaks;
- Final
gala dinner;
- Administrative
costs;
- Certificates.
Find
out how you can find finantial support for your participation
if you qualify for a Regional Final
How
is the Competition Organised?
The European Law Moot Court Society
is a non-profit organisation, the principal purpose of which
is the promotion of the Competition and otherwise as described
in the attached Mission Statement. The Society is generally
responsible for funding the Competition, establishing the
Rules, commissioning the Case and the overall supervision
of the Competition. The day-to-day business of the Society
is conducted by the Board.
The
Organising Team
The Organising Team is presently located in Lisbon, Portugal.
It is answerable to the Society and is responsible for the
general administration of the Competition - distribution of
information packages, selection and assisting the Regional
Organising Teams and overseeing the organisation of each Regional
Final.
The
Regional Teams
Each Regional Final Team is answerable to the Organising Team
and is required to arrange and finance accommodation for the
members of competing teams (up to 40 students over three or
four nights), the Judges (at least 8) and two members of the
central Organising Team. The Regional Team is also required
to arrange Court room premises for the moot, arrange a welcome
reception and other social events.
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