The URV was created in 1991 by the Parliament of Catalonia from the already existing university faculties and schools. In this way the Tarragona University of the 16th century was restored. From the very first day its aim has been very clear: to place knowledge at the service of society so as to contribute to the social and economic development of its environment, which has gradually transformed over time.
Social and cultural changes have opened the doors to a new framework in which our students and future workers are obliged to interact in Europe. At the URV we train professionals under the precepts of European harmonization, a key factor for opening the doors to a world of work without frontiers. And we do so by providing 52 programmes of study in a wide variety of knowledge areas for over 12,000 students.
The data show that the URV is not only one of the leading universities in Catalonia but also one of the leading universities in the European area for the quality of its teaching, its commitment to continuous training and the excellence of its research, development and innovation.

 Members:

• • Laura Román Martín  [Project manager]
• • Neus Oliveras Jané
• • Víctor Merino Sancho
• • Núria Torres Rossell
• • Elisabet Cerrato Guri
• • Raquel Vañó Vicedo
• • Sandra Ramos Garcia

The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) is one of the major public universities in Spain. In 2009 was awarded with the label of Campus of International Excellence by the Spanish Minister of Education. It is located in Bellaterra, very close to Barcelona. Currently, the University offers 83 undergraduate courses, covering a wide range of fields such as humanities and arts, social sciences, health sciences, technology and physical sciences. The UAB is the leading Spanish university according with the QS ranking 2012 and is ranked in the position 176rd of the global ranking.

The UAB is recognized internationally for its quality and innovation in research. It coordinates a potent scientific and technological campus which comprises all the departments, science and technology services, research centers, institutes and university hospitals. This wide range of disciplines integrated into a single area help to promote multi-disciplinarity in research. The UAB has so far been partner in 122 project of the 7FP, acting as a coordinator for 13 of them and received more than 34 millions Euros of funding. Regarding the theme SSH, UAB participates in 10 projects, being the Spanish university with a highest participation in this field. Furthermore, UAB also participates in 85 European research projects outside the 7FP.

 Members:

• • Teresa Freixes [Scientific director]
• • Mercè Sales
• • Caspar Visser
• • Corinne Drouin
• • Bettina Steible

Szczecin University, founded over 27 years ago, may boast itself on the fact that it is West Pomerania’s largest university. The city and university are located in direct geographical and cultural proximity to Germany (ca. 150 kilometers from Berlin) and within 100-kilometer distance from the Baltic Sea. Szczecin is often referred to as the “Paris of the North” due to its original urban design, i.e. distinctive star-shaped squares and roundabouts. The city is especially valued for its green spaces; there are plenty of parks and lush green squares.
Szczecin University is a new, dynamic and, what is most important, successful university. In a two-year period it was able to acquire funds equaling 20 million zlotys from the European Union. In 2005, Newsweek magazine ranked Szczecin University as 15thamong 96 universities which educate the largest number of senior management and chief executive staff in Poland.
Moreover, among those that Szczecin University has honored for their contributions to science and society, i.e. granted the title of doctor honoris causa, we may find: Dr Manfred Stolpe, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, Christopher F. Patten, Günter Verheugen, Prof. John D. Barrow and Prof. Richard Pipes.

 Members:

• • Pasquale Policastro
• • Bogna Baczyńska

The Bulgarian Judges Association (BJA), a member of the International Association of Judges, was founded in 1997. It has 938 members from all judicial districts and levels of the judiciary in Bulgaria.
The BJA is an independent and voluntary professional organisation that brings together Bulgarian judges. Its efforts are dedicated to ensuring that their professional, intellectual, social and material interests are protected and that the prestige of Bulgarian courts in society is upheld and enhanced.
In recent years, the policy of safeguarding the independence of the judiciary as an important aspect of the professional responsibility of the community of judges has been the main focus in the work of the organisation.
Another focus area in the work of the organisation is expert contribution – submitting opinions in cases pending before the Constitutional Court, drawing up draft statutory acts and organising different training events.
The Bulgarian Judges Association has a wealth of experience in project development both on a stand-alone basis and in partnership with international organisations. An inexhaustive list of the projects implemented to date will include, inter alia, the following projects: Organisational strengthening of the community of judges; Fair trial for victims of human trafficking s; Justice for child protection; and Strengthening of the capacity and solidarity of the community of judges.
The Bulgarian Judges Association maintains professional contacts with a number of national human rights and civil liberties organisations.

 Members:

• • Emil Dechev
• • Svetla Margaritova-Vuchkova
• • Atanas Atanasov