EUSA AP Conference,
8-9 Jan 2010, JNU New Delhi

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Teachers Forum: Jean Monnet Chair Professor from Macau University gave lectures at
Centre for European Studies,
Guangdong University of Foreign Studies

27-28 September, 2011

On September 27 to 28, at the invitation of Postgraduate Department and Centre for European Studies, Professor Paulo Canelas de Castro, the Jean Chair Professor from Macau University attended the first Teachers Forum of our University. He taught two English courses on EU law and his courses attracted many masters in European Studies, student in law and foreign teachers.

The courses were divided into two days. On the first day, in “the development of Lisbon Treaty”, Prof. Castro introduced the birth of the Treaty of Lisbon. The Lisbon Treaty amends the Constitution Treaty and is a milestone in the process of European integration. It reforms the EU institutions, simplifies the decision-making mechanism, and establishes permanent president of European Council (like the EU president) as well as the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (like the foreign minister of EU). And the next day, he started his lecture from the Lisbon Treaty, and then extended to the framework of EU law. Within which, he introduced the legal system of the EU and the history of EU law. He considered that the Lisbon Treaty was a very important step of EU legislation process and greatly promoted the integration of EU law. After the Lisbon Treaty, the Parliament is empowered with many new rights, at the meantime, a new balance among the Council, Commission and the European Council was established. He believed that the complementation and cooperation among EU institutions would undoubtedly facilitate the EU integration. Finally, he concluded that the EU law played a significant role in the EU and was a major way for understanding the EU. As a milestone law of the EU integration, the Lisbon Treaty would have profound influence on the future development of the EU.

In response to students’ questions, Prof. Castro explained with his professional knowledge as well as his own experiences. He said that before the EU was established, a person had to be checked if he wanted to enter into another country, but after that, all the checkpoints were abolished. And he had once passed by five countries without any barriers, just like in his own country. Besides, he showed his latest passport to the students, on which there is a flag of the EU. He was very proud of being an EU citizen and believed that with the power of EU citizens, the prospect of EU integration is bright even if EU is currently under the environment of financial crisis.





Cai Hong presented the souvenir to Prof. Castro in the name of Centre for European Studies and Postgraduate Department, and Prof. Castro presented his “The European Union at 50: Assessing The Past, Looking Ahead” which edited by him to Cai Hong and Yang Fei in return. In addition, he spoke highly of masters in European Studies. He said that their knowledge on Europe was more than his expectation and as a Portuguese, two masters’ fluent Portuguese left deep impression on him. Students who had attended that course said that it was really a rare opportunity of listening to such a famous teacher. With his help, their horizons were broadened and they were clearer about their future studies.
Jean Monnet is the “chief architect” of European Unity and is regarded as the “Europe father”. “Jean Monnet Chair Professor” is awarded by the EU to excellent researchers and teachers in the EU field and is the highest academic recognition of EU for research scholars and teachers who are engaged in European integration.