Univ.-Prof. Dr. Franz-Stefan Meissel, Director of the SHS, welcomed the students with his traditional welcome speech. MMag Dr. Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger, Judge at the General Court of the European Union and President of the UN Human Rights Council for the year 2020, gave an excellent lecture titled "Rule of Law, Human Rights, and Democracy in Crisis?" which was meant to provide this year's students with a solid starting point for discussions on democracy and human rights on a global level. After a big round of applause, the Rector of the University of Vienna, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Schütze, officially opened this year's summer school in Strobl.
The students, faculty members, and guests of honor were invited to a glass of champagne. The speeches already sparked productive conversations, and the participants got to know each other better while enjoying the beautiful surroundings of the bifeb campus. The opening ceremony concluded with a festive lunch where people could continue their exchanges over delicious food.