Enhancing dialogue on law across Europe
Enrico Basile, Assistant Professor of Criminal Law and White-Collar Crime at Bocconi University, was welcomed by the Sciences Po Law School in March as part of the CIVICA Faculty Short Visit program.
Fostering collaborative activities and dialogue and furthering existing links or establishing new ones. This is the aim of the scheme which gives professors and researchers across the CIVICA alliance the opportunity to visit other member institutions and activities of the 2-5 day visits can include giving a CIVICA-branded talk, participating in a CIVICA-branded conference, organising/participating in workshops or seminars for PhD researchers, networking with other faculty, discussing potential research projects.
During his time in Paris, Basile gave an introductory lecture on the intersection of business and human rights, addressing law school students, including a stimulating conversation on the possible consequences of business activities on human rights, such as the exploitation of workers or the use of violence against trade unionists to prevent strikes. During another lesson, he explored the concept of extraterritoriality of the law and its judicial and diplomatic implications. Basile emphasized the unique challenges faced by law enforcement in instances of cross-border corruption.
During a conference organised by the Association des Juristes de Sciences Po, Basile and Valentina Lana, lecturer at Sciences Po the law school and coordinator of the short visit, delivered presentations and conducted a comparative analysis of the anti-corruption legislative frameworks in Italy and France respectively. Finally, Basile participated in symposium with Lana and Astrid Mignon Colombet, a French attorney and Sciences Po lecturer, delving into to the intersection of business and human rights, focusing on the Lafarge case.
"My time at Sciences Po proved a stimulating experience. The experience has been intellectually fascinating, enhanced by interactive conversations and debates with colleagues and students,” says Basile. “I had the opportunity to present my most recent study pertaining to the association between corporate wrongdoing and infringements against human rights, as well as discuss recent legislative revisions concerning anti-corruption framework in Italy. I am optimistic that this collaborative effort has the potential to foster more intellectually fascinating and productive academic alliances."
"We took full advantage of prof Basile’s time with us and his knowledge, experience and expertise, not to mention his warm presence and acute sense of humour, to open a stimulating debate with our students on the extraterritoriality of the law and to deepen the mutual understanding of France and Italy in their choices on how to fight against corruption,” says Lana. “These initiatives are an extremely valuable opportunity not only to build strong relationships and lasting collaboration, but also to strengthen dialogue and bilateral cooperation. The type of research and knowledge-sharing CIVICA promotes is active, engaging and practical.