Prof. Dr. Wladislaw Czaplinski is since 2004 Director of the Institute of Legal Sciences at the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, and since 2001 professor of the European Centre, Warsaw University. He was visiting professor at the universities in Paris, Nice and Frankfurt (Oder). Between 1999 and 2005 he served as a member of the Prime Minister’s Legislative Board, and since 2004 he is chairman of the European Law Consultative Committee to the Minister of Justice. As a renowned specialist in international public law (particularly the liability of states for violation of the law) and EU law, he authored several monographs, e.g. on the cooperation of courts within the European Union.