Portius – the world's first law centre with focus on international and EU port law was inaugurated on 7 September at the Castle of the Counts in Ghent.
The audience included high-level representatives of the four supporting partners, the College of Europe-Development Office, the University of Ghent, the Port of Ghent and the Port of Zeebrugge, and other important local and international stakeholders.
On behalf of the College of Europe, Mr. Jan De Mondt, Director of Administration and Finance and Acting Director of the Development Office welcomed the participants.
Port law is essential to the functioning of maritime and inland ports, traditional gateways to global trade. It combines port-related aspects of maritime and transport law, international law of the sea, public law, economic law, labour law, environmental law and various other branches of the law.
Portius is conceived as an independent educational institution, focussing on EU and International Port Law and aiming to bring together a network of Port authorities, practicing lawyers and academics.