The Institute for German and European Water Management Law

The Institute  
This institute deals with current issues of modern Water Management Law on a scientifically independent basis. On several occasions throughout the year, they hold exclusive discussion groups. The speakers and participants within these groups are renowned for their expertise and closeness to the practice.  A combination of quality of location, quantity of participants, and the time and place of these discussion groups guarantees that everyday work involves well-adapted decision makers and the leading opinions of participants. They offer a prime opportunity to assemble and exchange not only scientific knowledge but also practical experience concerning current issues. The year 2007 saw the first Water Management Law day take place in Trier. As fundamental premis, coinciding with the central aspects of changing Water Law, the institute selected Trier as the first location for this event. Participants attended discussions and publisher Erich Schmidt produced a transcript of these conferences. Due to its success, the Water Management Law Day will continue to take place on a regular basis in the future. In addition to services carried out by members of the support association, one can include online access to the institute’s home page and a quarterly overview of adjudication and literature. This makes it easier for practitioners as they can instantly access relevant literature during the working day. Finally, the institute arranges sponsored third party studies on selected problematic issues.  
 
Institute Management
The directing manager of the institute, Professor Dr. Michael Reinhardt LL.M. has declared various measures dealing with the mandatory requirements of Water Law. After successfully studying a degree in Law at the Universities of Bonn and Cambridge, he qualified as a professor with Prof. Dr. Jürgen Salzwedel in Bonn. Since 1996, he has been holding the chair for Constitutional and Administrative Law at the University of Trier. He is currently the editor of the ‘Water Law Journal’ (ZfW) and the co-editor of the ‘Handbook of German Water Law’ (HDW) and the ‘Beck’sche Online Commentary on Environmental Law’ (BeckOK). In addition, as stated in the ninth edition of 2007, Professor Reinhardt is currently the only author solely responsible for a continuous commentary regarding Water Household Law (WHG). Such as those first formed by Paul Gieseke and Werner Wiedemann and continued by Manfred Czychowski. The Professor is also currently producing numerous up and coming publications, lectures and research projects, which will cover a wide range of Water Management Law. 
 
The Support Association

The members of the support association encourage the concept of the institute. The development of European and national Water Law has lead to a profoundly more complex and novel technique of questioning material that deals with water management. Practitioners in corporations, organisations, public authorities, courts and law firms now face a demand for answers to these questions.  For this reason, the institute forms an excellent foundation for the gateway between scientific knowledge and practice such as research and consultation. It is important to note that this work is also dependent on sufficient financial stability. The support association therefore provides the possibility for its members to engage in the care and development of current legal matters from the viewpoint of practitioners and scientists. In doing this, the members of the association profit from all the benefits that the institute has to offer. The members of the support association deal with a large number of public and private enterprises, organisations and chambers, such as those responsible for federal and national ministers. The Association remains open to all experts and respective institutions who express an interest.  
 
Subject of Research

Many academics are of the opinion that Water Law is merely a single element of Environmental Management Law. However, this theory would hardly serve justice to those who deal with Water Law on a scientific level.  Most important is that the main bodies dealing with this matter on a European basis, for example the European Legislature and water economy corporations, understand that Water Law is not only a part of Environmental Law but also of European Economy Law.  Therefore, new challenges have arisen to which both the German legislature and German water management companies must comply. The basis for discussion, which the institute has collectively accumulated, involves the three levels of Water Management Law; the utilisation of bodies of water according to Property Law, the ecological protection of bodies of water, and the analysis of the economic regulation framework.  This highlights the significance and importance of the close bonds that the institute has with the members of its sponsoring societies, thus ensuring a high standard in the practical approach of legal research. 

Translation
: Danielle Hughes.