About the ZEP

The Centre for European Private Law is a research institution of the University of Graz that deals with private law issues in a cross-border context. Research is focussed on various aspects and complexes of questions, particularly in the following areas: Tort law, insurance law, consumer protection law, corporate law, company law, private international law and civil procedure law.

The ZEP was set up as an interdisciplinary institution to bundle, promote and present the expertise of the academics at the Faculty of Law of the Karl-Franzens University in Graz in this field. In order to promote progress in as many areas of scientific research as possible, the University of Graz concluded a co-operation agreement with the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW). On the basis of this agreement, the Institute for European Tort Law (ESR/ETL) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences provides important scientific input for the faculty in the research field of European private law. There has also been close cooperation with the European Centre for Tort and Insurance Law (ECTIL) for many years. New projects are initiated and joint research projects are supported within the framework of both co-operations. The overall aim of the ZEP is to establish Austria as an important centre for research in European private law and to expand its research network through new collaborations with groups of researchers in European private law in other EU member states and worldwide.

The main objectives of the Centre for European Private Law are both research (e.g. the development of new research projects in the field of European private law, doctoral programme) and teaching. Its activities are carried out by the staff of the Centre, the University of Graz, the ESR/ETL and national and international partners of the Centre for European Private Law.