From academic programs and postgraduate degrees to policy advising, publications, and project implementation, research informs our thinking, sharpens our impact, and deepens our contribution to public law and governance.
The EPLO conducts academic research and related publications addressing a wide range of academic and policy issues within the broader field of public law.
We pursue research not only to generate knowledge, but to shape better institutions, empower decision-makers, and support societies in transition. Our work spans a wide spectrum of themes, including justice reform, public administration, criminal law, human rights, migration, and the protection of vulnerable groups. Through rigorous inquiry and comparative analysis, we explore policy alternatives and provide technical legal advice to national and international authorities.
Our research initiatives are often conducted in collaboration with leading institutions such as the World Bank, the University of Oxford, the Max Planck Institute, the Center for the Study of Democracy in Bulgaria, and the National School of Political Studies and Public Administration in Romania, among others.
We offer research-based degrees through our affiliated institutions, empowering students to explore complex legal and governance challenges with academic rigor and real-world relevance. Each year, we also host the EPLO Thesis Prize Award, an open competition that recognizes outstanding student research in the field of public law.
Thesis Prize Award
In September 1994, the European Group of Public Law (EGPL)—the Scientific Council of the EPLO—established the annual Thesis Prize, awarded to the most outstanding doctoral or postdoctoral thesis in public law distinguished by its European dimension. Eligible theses must be written in one of the official languages of the European Union.
The winner is selected by an ad hoc jury composed of EGPL members and is invited to present the core ideas and insights of their thesis at the EGPL Annual Reunion, held each September in Greece. An article based on the winning thesis is also published in the European Review of Public Law, offering broader visibility and scholarly recognition.
Conditions for Participation
- Nationality: Candidates must be nationals of a European Union Member State. Exceptions may be made for candidates whose thesis was prepared at a university or research center located within the EU.
- Language: Theses must be written in one of the official languages of the European Union.
- Abstract: An abstract must be submitted in one of the working languages of the European Review of Public Law: English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish.
- Age Limit: Candidates must be under 40 years of age as of January 1st of the competition year.
- Submission: Applicants must submit three copies of their thesis, an abstract, and a curriculum vitae to the EPLO Secretariat.
Criteria
The following are, in particular, taken into consideration:
- Relevance and Reach: The thematic interest of the thesis in relation to the mission of the European Group of Public Law, and its potential to engage researchers across diverse legal cultures and traditions.
- Scientific Rigor: The depth of analysis, clarity of argumentation, and overall contribution to legal scholarship within the field of public law.
- Innovative Thinking: The originality and innovation demonstrated in the thesis.
- Formal Excellence: The structural coherence, presentation quality, and academic standards of the work.
How to Apply
To submit your thesis you need to notify the Thesis Prize Secretariat of you intention to do so by June 30 every year. The notification consists of an email addressed to afiumi@eplo.int for the attention of Mrs. Alessia Fiumi, indicating that you intend to submit your thesis for consideration.
Please submit your thesis according to the conditions for participation by 31 July of each year to the following address:
Secretariat - Thesis Prize
European Public Law Organization
2 Polygnotou St, GR105 55
Athens, Greece
