From November 1–6, Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) Law School students participated in the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA) travelling seminar “Contested Territories and Legal Remedies in International Public Law”, held in Cyprus.
The event brought together students and lecturers from various ERUA partner universities to explore how international law applies in the context of disputed territories and to discuss real-life examples of international conflicts.
Cyprus – a Living Laboratory of International Law
Cyprus was chosen for this seminar for a reason – it remains one of Europe’s most complex and academically significant disputed territories.
The island is still divided into two administrative parts, providing participants with a unique opportunity to observe international law operating in real-world conditions.
Students visited the buffer zone in Nicosia, met with representatives of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission, and explored the former Nicosia International Airport – now a symbol of both division and peacekeeping efforts on the island.
The program also included visits to Famagusta and the Varosha “ghost town”, where law, politics, and history intertwine in particularly sensitive ways.
An Experience Enriching Both Academically and Personally
According to participants, the seminar was much more than lectures or academic discussions.
It provided an opportunity to deepen their understanding of international law, while also experiencing how legal principles operate within a real-life conflict.
Students emphasized that ERUA initiatives offer unique international learning opportunities – to study at different European universities, understand diverse legal systems, and build professional and intercultural connections across Europe.
“It was more than an academic seminar – it was an experience that allowed us to see law as a living mechanism operating among people, histories, and decisions,” – shared the MRU students.
About ERUA
ERUA (European Reform University Alliance) is a network of European universities fostering innovative, interdisciplinary, and mobile learning.
As an active member, MRU provides its students with the opportunity to study, travel, and collaborate across Europe through ERUA activities and joint projects.
