News izes the French [insurance] market, which is conse- the region committed to legal reform. Guided by a quently deprived of any access to the reinsurance distinguished Executive Board, CEELI has relied on the pro bono, volunteer efforts of literally thousands activities located [abroad]"), and the French tax au- of American and West European lawyers, judges, and thorities may thus adopt a different position regard- ing other kinds of payments that fall within the law professors. broad scope of application of article 182-B-I-c (such In the past decade, CEELI has conducted hun- as royalties, for example). dreds of training programs and helped to establish or strengthen over 75 indi~ous institutions dedicated .Remi Dhonneur and Nicolas Not are tax attor- to legal reform across the region, from Bratislava to neys at Baker & McKenzie in Paris. Irkutsk. CEELI currently has offices in 21 countries in the region, working with a broad spectrum of local NGOs and other institutions to address concerns crit- ical to those systems. Both directly and through its At the Front -New Institute sponsorship of the Coalition for International Jus- tice, CEELI is supporting the work of the United Na- Propels Reform Efforts tions War Crimes Tribunal at The Hague and on the ground in the Balkans. In the words of a recent fmal by Milton Cerny report issued in January of 1999 by an USAID evalu- ation team: "The rise of the global economy has spurred many Partners and clients consistently praised countries to upgrade their legal systems in attempts CEELI's contribution for being responsive, en- to meet the demands of the world marketplace."l trepreneurial, effective and appropriate. Com- A decade ago we watched triumphant young peo- mon themes heard among interviewees included quality and commitment demonstrated by liai- ple atop the graffiti covered Berlin Wall calling for a shift in the world order -rule by party would be re- sons, the highly relevant expertise of CEELI placed by the rule of law. After 10 years the reforms in short-term legal specialists and consultants, Central and Eastern Europe are far from complete and the importance among host country clients and will be a generational effort. Training the next of the association with the AHA. generation of leaders and supporting institutions Much of CEELI's work has focused on education vital to lasting reform will require long-term commit- and training for lawyers, judges, prosecutors, and ment to the region. law professors from throughout the region. The regi- * * * * men of legal training in Eastern Europe and the for- mer Soviet Union is inadequate to prepare leaders to On April 18, 1999, the Board of Governors of the continue the transition from communism to the rule American Bar Association responded to this chal- of law and a free market economy. Few law faculties lenge and approved the creation of the Central and teach courses in individual and human rights, ethics, East European Law Institute, to serve as a catalyst law of nonprofit organizations, European Union law, for reform in legal, judicial, and parliamentary edu- alternative dispute resolution, or advocacy skills. cation throughout Central and Eastern Europe and Even in school catalogues that contain descriptions of the former Soviet Union. Utilizing innovative educa- such courses, the actual methodology and content fol- tional techniques and a skills-based curriculum de- low old themes. Practical skills training is virtually veloped by experts with extensive experience unknown. throughout the region, the CEELI Institute will initi- ate its operations in Prague, Czech Republic. It will Working through a variety of indigenous institu- be a critical focal point for the network of reformers, tions and groups, CEELI has focused on country- lawyers, judges, and government officials who must specific programs to address these problems. compete in the new market economies. CEELI's programs will continue because its experi- ence over the past decade has demonstrated that re- CEELI form-minded institutions and individuals need long- term support to sustain the progress achieved to The institute is a project of the ABA and the Cen- date. tral and East European Law Initiative (CEELI). CEELI was established in 1990 to assist countries in The Institute A continuation and expansion of CEELI's histori- cal emphasis on training and education, the institute will meet these needs. Based in Prague, the institute will be a permanent facility, which will allow CEELI l"At the Front," ABA Journal, Aug. 1999, p. 72. Tax Notes International 1146 .September 27, 1999
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