Page 7 - EPLO ACTIVITY REPORT 2023

Cascais Regional Branch, Portugal

The Regional Branch of EPLO in Portugal (Cascais) has undertaken various activities, during its second year of
actual operation, to fulfill its mandate of promoting Portugal, and especially Cascais, as an international center for
education, research, and international cooperation in its field of competencies. According to its goals, the Regional
Branch has actively and substantially supported some of the most significant events of this current year, including
dealing with the daily issues after relevant liaison communications with the State Protocol of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Municipality of Cascais.

Inaugural Ceremony of the EPLO Global Rule of Law Commission in Portugal (Cascais)
10 January 2023

The Regional Branch provided full support in the organization of the inaugural ceremony of the EPLO Global Rule
of Law Commission (GRoLC) that took place at the Casa de Santa Maria premises of the EPLO Branch in Cascais.
Professor Spyridon Flogaitis, EPLO Director, addressed an introductory speech referring to the official
announcement of the GRoLC at the UN, on 14 November 2022, and to its mission. His speech was followed by a
welcome address from Dr. Tiago Antunes, Secretary of State for European Affairs, who highlighted the notion of
the Rule of Law. Moreover, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, Under-Secretary-General and Legal Counsel of the United
Nations, welcomed the new Commission and further committed that the UN’s legal system will support its work.
Before concluding the ceremony, which was open to the public and the press, Professor Spyridon Flogaitis
addressed a speech on behalf of Professor Giuliano Amato, Former President of the Constitutional Court, Former
Prime Minister of Italy, and President of the GRoLC, who could not attend the ceremony in person. The EPLO
GRoLC operates from the EPLO Headquarters in Cascais and is scheduled to meet twice a year, with one meeting
taking place in Cascais and the second meeting being held in any other country that extends an invitation for the
Commission to convene there.

Professor Spyridon Flogaitis GRoLC’s inaugural ceremony

First Meeting of the EPLO Global Rule of Law Commission in Portugal (Cascais)

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Following the inaugural ceremony, during the 10 and 11 of January 2023, the kick-off meeting of the EPLO
GRoLC was held at the Sala do Futuro.

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