May 15+16, 2025 ¦ University of Zurich ¦ Small Great Hall

European law-friendliness of the constitution

The conference "Europarechtsfreundlichkeit - Verfassungsrechtliche Strategien der Öffnung für die europäische Integration in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz" took place on May 15 and 16, 2025 (moved due to the ESC) at the University of Zurich. The conference was organized by Prof. Dr. Andreas Müller (University of Basel) and Prof. Dr. Werner Schroeder (University of Innsbruck). The conference took a comparative look at the influences of European law in the respective national legal systems of the three countries in the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland), with a sideways glance at Liechtenstein (EEA).

The academic results of the conference will be published in a supplement to the journal "Europarecht" in 2026.

The program can be found in the flyer.

6. May 2025 ¦ Bern

Excursion to the Delegation of the European Union

On May 6. 2025, the Delegation of the European Union for Switzerland in Bern gave us an insight behind the scenes of their diplomatic work. After an introduction by EU Ambassador Petros Mavromichalis, the students were able to address questions to the ambassador and learn more about the work on the new bilateral agreements, European security policy and the relationship between Switzerland and the EU in the current security situation in a pending discussion.

14.04.2025 ¦ Interview with Andreas Müller

Russian attack on Sumy: Is this a war crime?

But when exactly is an act of war a war crime? Isn't war itself already a crime? In this podcast episode, international law professor Andreas Müller from the University of Basel explains in which cases one can speak of a war crime and what speaks in favor of doing so in the case of Sumy.

Listen to the contribution here.

EUCOR seminar on European fundamental rights protection

22. EUCOR seminar on European fundamental rights protection "Climate protection in court - La justice climatique"

From February 28 to March 1, 2025, the 22nd EUCOR Seminar on European Fundamental Rights Protection on the subject of "Climate Protection in Court - La justice climatique" took place in Basel and from March 11 to 12, 2025 in Strasbourg. The seminar was headed by the organizers Prof. Catherine Haguenau-Moizard (University of Strasbourg), Prof. Dr. Matthias Jestaedt (University of Freiburg im Breisgau) and Prof. Dr. Andreas Müller (University of Basel) as well as the two guests Prof. Dr. Stephan Breitenmoser (University of Basel) and Prof. Constance Grewe (University of Strasbourg), with the support of Ms. Anna Roth (University of Basel). Among other things, the seminar focused on the Climate Senior Citizens ruling of the European Court of Human Rights. In addition to numerous interesting presentations and lively discussions on legal developments in the field of climate protection, the seminar was rounded off with cultural program items such as a tour of Augusta Raurica in Augst and a guided tour of the Bibliothèque nationale et universitaire (BNU) in Strasbourg. In addition to the exchange of knowledge, the international and personal exchange between the participants from Freiburg, Strasbourg and Basel was particularly enriching.

Article by Andreas Müller in "Unser Recht", Swiss think tank for law and politics

What's in a Name? On the naming of the new package of agreements between the "Colonial Treaty" and "Bilaterals III"

European law expert Andreas Müller explains legal considerations on the Framework Agreement 2.0 - InstA 2.0 - Colonial Treaty - Submission Treaty - Bilaterals III: What contribution can these politically colored terms make to the discussion on the package of agreements between Switzerland and the EU, and what do they imply?

Read the article here.

09.02.2025 ¦ Interview with Andreas Müller

Trump's plans undermine international law

Editor Martin Begle of the Neue Vorarlberger Tageszeitung talks to international law expert Andreas Müller about martial law, conflict dynamics and chances for peace in the Middle East conflict.

Read the article on pages 30 and 31.

05.02.2025 ¦ Andreas Müller in an interview ¦ Analysis in the Aargauer Zeitung

Trump's Gaza plan in a reality check

Felix Wellisch, Jerusalem, and Sermin Faki talk to international law expert Andreas Müller about Trump's Gaza plan in a reality check: The idea of resettling the Palestinians has a big catch. With his idea to take over the Gaza Strip, the president has left out crucial aspects.

Read the article here.

10.01.2025 ¦ Andreas Müller in an interview ¦ 'KRONE' analysis

USA wants Greenland: When NATO fights NATO

Editor Clemens Zavarsky talks to international law expert Andreas Müller about NATO and what happens when a member state itself becomes an aggressor and attacks another member of the alliance.

Read the article here

05.12.2024 ¦ Andreas Müller in an interview ¦ SRF News

Amnesty International accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza

Editor Maya Janik talks to international law expert Andreas Müller about the genocide allegations against Israel, which Amnesty International formulated in a report.

Listen to the interview here.

25. November 2024: Generation talk at the Institute for European Global Studies

On the anniversary of Bilaterals I and II - all good things come in threes?

2024 marks a double anniversary for the bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU: the Bilateral Agreements I package was signed 25 years ago, and Bilateral Agreements II 20 years ago. Negotiations are currently underway on a package that is increasingly being referred to in the public debate as "Bilaterals III".

Prof. Dr. Christa Tobler (Institute for European Global Studies) and Prof. Dr. Andreas Müller (Faculty of Law) are organizing a generational discussion between National Councillor Sarah Wyss and the founding director of the Institute for European Global Studies, Prof. Dr. Georg Kreis, on the history, present and future of Switzerland's bilateral path.

The event is open to the public and will be followed by an aperitif.

For further information, please follow the link.

30. October 2024: Public panel discussion

CLIMATE JUDGEMENT. AND NOW?

Recognized of credits and grades by the Supreme Court of Human Rights and ignored by Switzerland. With various voices from the climate movement, young and old, as well as representatives from politics and law, we will discuss the implications of the climate judgement. The panel discussion will take place on October 30, 2024 from 18:30 - 20:00 in the great hall of the Kollegienhaus (main building) of the University of Basel.

Moderator: Martin Läubli, Science Editor Tages-Anzeiger

Please register using the QR code on the flyer.

Discussion group on international public law

9. October 2024: Discussion group, University of Lucerne

Discussion group "International Public Law"

In the discussion group "Public International Law" at the 83rd Annual Conference of the Association of German Constitutional Law Professors in Lucerne, Prof. Dr. Andreas Müller gave a lecture on the subject of "Proportionality as a general principle of international law". Prof. Dr. Heike Krieger (Free University of Berlin) and Prof. Dr. Alexander Proelss (University of Hamburg) also spoke and discussed in the panel "Proportionality in International Law of Armed Conflict" under the moderation of Prof. Dr. Andreas Paulus (University of Göttingen) and Prof. Dr. Kirsten Schmalenbach (University of Salzburg).

Further information can be found in the flyer.

26.09.2024 ¦ Interview with Andreas Müller ¦ 20 minutes

Terminating human rights in order to tighten the asylum screw - is that possible?

Parliament once again debated the denunciation of the European Convention on Human Rights - but ultimately decided clearly against it. But what if? International law expert Andreas Müller explains in an interview with Christina Pirskanen.

Read the article here

Flyer panel discussion on human rights narratives

24. September 2024: Public Panel discussion

Human rights narratives - the battle for interpretative sovereignty

An exciting panel discussion on the subject of "Human rights narratives - the battle for interpretative sovereignty". The event will take place on September 24, 2024 from 18:15 - 19:45 in the Pro IURE Auditorium of the Faculty of Law.

No pre-registration is required.

06.09.2024 ¦ Andreas Müller in an interview ¦ The Atlantic

The Most Personal Climate Case in the World

Did Austria's rising temperatures violate this man's human rights? Andreas Müller in an interview with Zoë Schlanger.

Read the article here

The editors are Andreas Th. Müller and Kerstin von der Decken (formerly Odendahl)

International Law - In a Nutshell

International law is one of the areas of law whose importance has steadily increased in recent years. The modern world and state action can no longer be understood without a basic knowledge of international law, the only area of law that can take account of the international dimension of today's problems.

The aim of this "nutshell" book is to provide the reader with a basic knowledge of international law. To this end, it provides an overview of international law as a whole. The descriptions are supplemented by numerous practical examples as well as "digressions" on Switzerland's role in international affairs.

You can find the link to the book here.

30. May 2024: Inaugural lecture by Prof. Dr. Andreas Müller

"Of birthdays, courts and headwinds: Switzerland in the international human rights system"

On 30 May 2024, Prof. Dr. Andreas Müller gave his inaugural lecture in the museums' great hall. Under the title "Of birthdays, courts and headwinds: Switzerland in the international human rights system", he offered the numerous guests an insight into the international protection of human rights and focused in particular on the currently controversial Climate Senior judgment of the European Court of Human Rights.

Receipt of the 2024 Cross-Border Education Grant

Cross-Border Education Grant of the University of Basel

We are delighted to announce that the Chair's long-standing collaboration with Prof. Dr. Catherine Haguenau-Moizard (University of Strasbourg) and Prof. Dr. Matthias Jestaedt (Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg i. Br.) will once again be supported by a Cross-Border Education Grant from the University of Basel. The Cross-Border Education Grant is an instrument of the University of Basel for the funding of innovative bi- and trinational courses at Master's/Doctorate level within Eucor - The European Campus. With this support, the trilateral EUCOR seminar on the subject of "Climate Protection in Court" will be held for the 22nd time in FS 2025.

Interview in the Basler Zeitung

How justified are the accusations against Israel in the Gaza war? Basel professor of international law has a clear opinion

In public opinion around the world, Israel is increasingly losing sympathy and understanding for its campaign against Hamas. Andreas Müller, professor of international law at the University of Basel, argues for a very precise assessment of the respective events.

Read the interview here.

Interview in the SRF News magazine "10 vor 10"

Arrest warrants for members of the Israeli government and Hamas leaders

Prof. Dr. Andreas Müller comments on the applications for the issuance of arrest warrants by the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim A.A. Khan.

Watch and listen to the interview here.

"The world of tomorrow"

European Book Prize winner Robert Menasse discusses his new essay on Europe in Basel

On May 16, 2024, the Austrian author Robert Menasse, who has made a name for himself in recent years with his European novels "Die Hauptstadt" and "Die Erweiterung", visited the University of Basel. At the invitation of the Chair of European Law, International Law and Human Rights in cooperation with the Institute for European Global Studies and the Literaturhaus Basel, Robert Menasse discussed with Prof. Dr. Andreas Müller and Dr. Christoph Spenlé the essay "Die Welt von Morgen. A sovereign-democratic Europe and its enemies", recently published by Suhrkamp. The great hall, which was well attended by 150 participants, showed a lively interest in the vision of overcoming nationalism in a future democratic Europe, its contradictions and borders - and what all this means for Switzerland.

March 20-22, 2024 at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg

Major success for the Basel team at the international ECHR Moot Court

At this year's Concours René Cassin, an international moot court on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the Basel team from the Chair of European Law, International Law and Human Rights was extremely successful. Their 30-page appeal in French qualified them for the final round of the prestigious competition. At the oral hearings at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, the team achieved an outstanding 11th place among the universities qualified throughout Europe. We congratulate the participants, Noa Arn, Sonja Bamert, Leon Calabrese, Laura Niklaus and Davide Pusterla on this outstanding success.

The team was supervised by Sunniva Bedö, BLaw and Joana Mösch, MLaw.

Special thanks go to our sponsors, the PRO IURE association (alumni of the Faculty of Law of the University of Basel) and the Kalman and Maria Lauer-Stein Foundation, for their generous support, without which this success would not have been possible.

Interview on the climate senior verdict

Strasbourg has pushed the boundary between law and politics a little further

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has reprimanded Switzerland for not doing enough to combat climate change. What does this mean? International law professor Andreas Müller assesses the ruling in an interview with Charlotte Walser. She has been part of the Tamedia editorial team at the Federal Parliament since 2021. She has a doctorate in philosophy and has been working as a journalist since 1995.

Read or listen to the interview here.

The International Law Association (ILA) meets in Adelaide

In February 2024, the biannual meeting of the Committee on International Migration and International Law of the International Law Association (ILA) took place at Flinders University in Adelaide, of which Prof. Andreas Müller has been a member since its foundation in 2022. This was accompanied by presentations on the reform of the Common European Asylum System at the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law at the University of New South Wales in Sydney and on the Swiss deportation initiative and its consequences as part of the conference "A Critical Lens on Mass Deportation of Non-Citizens: Law, Crimes and Technology" at Flinders University in Adelaide.

Special issue of the Zeitschrift für ausländisches öffentliches Recht und Völkerrecht

The constitution friendly to international law - A principle in the German-Austrian-Swiss legal comparison

The Swiss, German and Austrian constitutions can all be described as fundamentally oriented towards international law.
In a conference organized in November 2022, 16 renowned legal scholars from German-speaking countries examined the concept of the "constitution friendly to international law" from the perspective of their respective constitutional systems, but also from a comparative law perspective. The academic results of the conference, organized by Prof. Dr. Andreas Müller together with Prof. Dr. Werner Schroeder (University of Innsbruck), are now documented in the latest issue of the Zeitschrift für ausländisches öffentliches Recht und Völkerrecht (ZaöRV, issue 4/2023) in the form of a special issue.

The link to the special issue can be found here.

Christmas market visit in Basel

For once, the last team meeting of the year did not take place in the closed rooms of the faculty, but in the fresh air in icy temperatures. The entire faculty team, with the exception of Anna and Colin, gathered for mulled wine, spaetzle and "Chäsbängel" on Münsterplatz and explored the Basel Christmas market together. In addition to the relaxed conversations, hearty laughs and coats stained with cheese, the mulled wine cups will remain as another memory of this evening as an addition to our office inventory.

We wish you a wonderful Advent season, a peaceful festive season and a happy new year!

Ask Our Expert - Interview

International law in the Middle East conflict

How does international law view the terrorist attack by Hamas and Israel's military response? Prof. Dr. Andreas Müller answered your questions on the international law situation in the Middle East conflict in a live interview.

Listen to the interview here.

ORF Ö1 - Interview in the midday journal on November 3, 2023 at 1:00 pm

The end of human rights?

Reflecting on the future of an achievement of civilization. What are human rights worth if they are not enforceable? And are human rights, as enshrined in the UN Declaration, still appropriate for today's world?
Andreas Müller is Professor of European Law, International Law and Human Rights at the University of Basel and appeared as a speaker at the Amnesty Forum 2023 from November 3 to discuss these and other questions. To kick off the forum, he was a guest of Philipp Blom in Punkt eins.

Listen to the interview here.

ORF Ö1 - Interview in Mittagsjournal on October 27, 2023 at 1:00 pm

International and human rights expert on the GAZA conflict

Andreas Müller, Professor of European Law, International Law and Human Rights at the University of Basel, provides insights into international humanitarian law with a special focus on Israel's situation and the upcoming ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Listen to the conversation here.

SRF - Echo der Zeit - Interview

What is permitted under international law in war?

Many questions of international law arise in connection with the war in the Middle East.
The renewed war between Israel and Palestine raises fundamental questions: What means may Israel use to defend itself against Hamas violence? In which cases may civilian casualties be accepted? The interview with Andreas Müller, Professor of European Law, International Law and Human Rights at the University of Basel.

Listen to the conversation here.

The double issue (No 39/40) is published

IUS INHOUSE

Please find here the new double issue of the magazine IUS INHOUSE, in which among others Andreas Müller is introduced (page 13).

In addition, we would like to draw your attention to the Moot Court Concours René Cassin (page 40) as well as the EUCOR seminar (page 44-45) on the protection of fundamental rights in Europe. Both events are supervised by Andreas Müller.

Conference of 29 and 30 September 2023 - Law Faculty of the University of Basel and online

Switzerland in the UN Security Council - A Plus for the International Rule of Law?

Switzerland became a member of the United Nations (UN) in September 2002 and has, since then, been involved in a wide range of UN activities. During the period of 2023/2024, Switzerland is, for the first time, sitting as a non-permanent member in the UN Security Council. The conference of was attended by 70 people on site, as well as an additional 40 participants who virtually participated - including a delegation from the Permanent Mission of Switzerland of the UN in New York City.

26.09.2023 ¦ Lecture Series in Law and Economics ¦ University of Basel, Faculty of Law, Pro Iure Auditorium

The Future of Social Media - Into the Fediverse

From Twitter or X to Mastodon? From Instagram to Pixelfed? From Youtube to PeerTube? What's next for social media? Social media influence the everyday life of many people, both privately and professionally.
Three presentations will show, from their respective perspectives, which questions are occupying research in connection with the Fediverse. Prof. Müller will speak on the topic of "Social Media and the Fediverse from the Perspective of European Law".

The flyer and further information on registration (until 22.09.2023!) can be found here.

This event is part of the Lecture Series in Law and Economics - a joint project of the Faculty of Economics, the Faculty of Law and the Research Network Responsible Digital Society of the University of Basel, supported by the Summer School of Law, Business and Economic Policy.

Short video

Personal questions to Professor Andreas Müller

Learn more about the life of a professor: In this video, Andreas Müller, Professor of European Law, International Law and Human Rights, provides a fascinating and personal insight into his life and work. More information about Mr. Müller is available on the website of the Faculty of Law.

Deutsche Welle - Interview with Andreas Müller and other experts on public international law

How should the frozen Russian assets be treated from the perspective of public international law?

The West is debating whether to provide Russian cash reserves to Ukraine.
There are proposals in several Western countries to seize Russia's frozen assets and use them to finance Ukraine's reconstruction. Initiatives in the EU, the United Kingdom, and the United States aim to deprive Russia's central bank of some $300 billion in assets. However, this move could prove to be a double-edged sword and set an unfortunate precedent for future international law.

Listen to the assessment of Andreas Müller (in German) here.

Vorarlberger Nachrichten - Article of July 31 2023

„Aus jetziger Sicht kein Problem“ - Schweiz will sich an „Sky Shield“ beteiligen: Vorerst ist das mit der Neutralität vereinbar.

Die Welt ist klein. Das bestätigt sich bei der Suche nach einem Völkerrechtsexperten in der Schweiz, der sich zu einem allfälligen Spannungsverhältnis zwischen Neutralität und dem europäischen Luftverteidigungssystem „Sky Shield“ äußert. Auf eine Empfehlung aus Lausanne landen die VN bei Andreas Müller, der eine Professur an der Universität Basel inne hat. Das Gespräch mit ihm kann in gewohntem Dialekt geführt werden. Müller, Jahrgang 1977, ist in Lustenau geboren und in Feldkirch aufgewachsen. Wie Österreich hat die ebenfalls neutrale Schweiz die Absicht, sich an „Sky Shield“ zu beteiligen. Die politische Debatte sei dort jedoch „bei Weitem nicht so erregt wie in Österreich, sondern eher etwas abwartend“, so Müller.

Read the rest of the article of July 31 2023 by Vorarlberger Nachrichten here.

Book - Presentation

Switzerland and the EU - A Challenging Relationship

On the occasion of the launch of the book "Switzerland and the EU - A Challenging Relationship" (edited by Marc Maresceau and Christa Tobler, published at Brill) on 9 June 2023, Prof. Dr. Andreas Müller gave a lecture on "The ambiguity of solidarity in the external relations of the EU: Switzerland as a case in point" at the Institute for European Global Studies in Basel.

Book - Der Beitrag des Wahlrechts zur Ausübung der demokratischen Rechte in Österreich und der Schweiz

Demografie, Partizipation und Repräsentation

Demokratie kann in realen politischen Systemen auf verschiedene Weise vermittelt werden. Insbesondere in parlamentarischen Demokratien, in denen die Entscheidungsgewalt bei einem Gremium liegt, dem die Beherrschten diese Befugnis auf Zeit übertragen. Der Begriff der Repräsentation wird zum Schlüsselbegriff der Demokratie. Die Frage, wer wen und unter welchen Bedingungen repräsentiert, lässt sich aus normativer und faktischer Perspektive stellen. Einerseits lässt sich untersuchen, welche Vorgaben die Rechtsordnung für die Auswahl der Parlamentsmitglieder macht, andererseits kann man fragen, inwieweit Repräsentationsstrukturen und -prozesse in der Realität tatsächlich eingelöst werden.

Diese Repräsentationsprobleme werden aus Sicht des österreichischen und schweizerischen Rechts, unter Berücksichtigung einer europarechtlichen Perspektive, untersucht.

The book can be found here.

Screenshot of the video "Three questions for Dr. Prof. Müller".

A short video

Three questions for Prof. Dr. Andreas Müller

Prof. Dr. Andreas Müller has been Professor of European Law, International Law and Human Rights at the Law Faculty of the University of Basel since February 01, 2023. In the video, Prof. Müller offers an insight into his current work and research.

Award of the 2023 Cross-Border Education Grant

Cross-Border Education Grant of the University of Basel

We are pleased that the Chair's long-standing collaboration with Prof. Dr. Catherine Haguenau-Moizard (University of Strasbourg) and Prof. Dr. Matthias Jestaedt (Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg i. Br.) is being supported by the Cross-Border Education Grant of the University of Basel. The Cross-Border Education Grant is an instrument of the University of Basel for the promotion of innovative bi- and trinational courses at Master/Doctorate level within Eucor - The European Campus. With this support, the trilateral EUCOR seminar on the protection of European human rights will be held for the 21st time in FS 2024.

Picture Prof. Dr. Müller at Aarau Democracy Days

Climate lawsuits before EU courts

Lecture at the 15th Aarau Demokratietagen, 30.3.2023

Up until the present, landmark decisions on climate protection have been made primarily by politicians. However, attempts are now increasingly being made to enforce climate protection through legal action, in part by means of transnationally coordinated lawsuits as well as by invoking fundamental and human rights. The courts are thus becoming central actors in the climate debate, and have already made binding climate policy stipulations in various spectacular rulings. In this context, the traditional distinction between case law as a decision in individual cases and policy as a regulation of future developments can hardly be maintained. The panel explored the question of what role courts can or must play in the context of climate change. Can the judiciary, which has only a weak democratic legitimacy, anticipate the legislative process? Or is it even obliged to intervene in view of the political deadlock?

SRF - Echo der Zeit - Interview

Juridical hurdles with the confiscation of Russian funds

There are about 7.5 billion francs of Russian funds frozen in Switzerland. Money that theoretically could be used for the reconstruction of Ukraine. Currently, the Federal Council is discussing the possibility of confiscating the funds. However, from a legal point of view, this is easier said than done. Interview with Andreas Müller, Professor of European Law, International Law and Human Rights at the University of Basel.

Listen to the conversation here.

Book - Edited by Fernando Lusa Bordin, Andreas Müller and Francisco Pascual-Vives

The European Union and Customary International Law

The book gathers a group of scholars interested in both public international law and EU law to cover different facets of the relationship between the European Union and customary international law. Considering the distinct perspectives taken by international law and EU law, while also looking into the space between the two, individual chapters tackle complex questions such as whether and on what bases the European Union is bound by customary international law as a matter of international law and EU law; how the European Union contributes to the development of international custom; and how different stakeholders - the Court of Justice of the European Union, the EU's political organs and EU citizens - rely upon customary rules. The book thus offers a systematic account of the relevance of customary international law for the external relations and internal functioning of what is no doubt the most remarkable regional international organization of our time.

The book can be found here.

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