Walter Hallstein
Institut für Europäisches Verfassungsrecht der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

It focuses on research into the fundamental principles, structures and contents of a European constitutional order, based on a comparative analysis of constitutional law.
 
Features of the Institute are the establishment of an international network of institutes having similar objectives in view to conducting co-operative research work and the usage of modern means of communication to launch an Europe-wide discourse on constitutional law. The Institute takes advantage of Berlin's geographical position and the Humboldt University's profile as "a bridge between East and West" and encourages a merger of theory and practice through practically and politically aligned events in Germany's capital. It also promotes public discussions and offers advice to political institutions about crucial questions regarding the European constitutionalization. The Institute organises a series of lectures on the issue of European constitutional law ("Forum Constitutionis Europae") as well as annual conferences and other events.
 
The Institute is an institution affiliated with Humboldt University's Faculty of Law, supported by an incorporated non-profit association. The chairmanship of the Institute is held jointly by Michael Kloepfer, professor of law and Ingolf Pernice, professor of law. Advisory duties are assigned to a Scientific Council and to an Advisory Board.
 
The core facility of the Institute is the special library on European Union and comparative constitutional law, affiliated with the Faculty's main law library. Another hallmark of the Institute to interact with the interested public via internet and other means of modern media in order to prompt discussions on the Institute's current issues.
 
The Institute emerged from a research project on European constitutional law supported by the DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft). Additional financial support was obtained from the European Commission. Perspectives of future financing include contributions coming from EU-institutions, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Berlin and from members of the association supporting the Institute.

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