The law and public policy expert with a distinguished career in both academia and international institutions succeeds former Fellow Besa Shahini.
John Morijn, a seasoned legal scholar and policymaker with a globetrotting career spanning academia, government and independent advisory bodies, will join the Hertie School as the third Henrik Enderlein Fellow.
Morijn takes over from former Fellow Besa Shahini. The fellowship, which spans one year, will be awarded at the public lecture and discussion “Integrating New Members: Strengthening the Rule of Law in a Growing EU” at the Hertie School on 12 September 2024.
Morijn combines law and public policy in Europe’s “most important capital”
“We are thrilled to welcome John Morijn to the Hertie School,” says Hertie School President Cornelia Woll. “His exemplary work at the intersection of academia and civil service has been driven by a profound commitment to improve European integration and to strengthen international law and the defence of human rights, which are all areas we care deeply about.”
John Morijn’s diverse career bridging theory and practice combines a distinguished academic journey comprising law degrees from the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy, a PhD from the European University Institute, and public service work. His roles have encompassed diplomacy, judicial appointments and leadership positions in influential advisory bodies, including the EU Fundamental Rights Agency. Morijn’s appointment at the Hertie School follows a fellowship in Law and Public Policy at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, where his research centred on EU rule of law and democracy.
“I am very much looking forward to taking up my role as Henrik Enderlein Fellow at the Hertie School, a unique and vibrant institution in Europe’s most important capital,” says Morijn.
Farewell to former Fellow Besa Shahini
The public event on 12 September will also serve to bid farewell to former Fellow and Master of Public Policy alumna Besa Shahini, who dedicated her fellowship to exploring the EU enlargement process in the Western Balkans. Previously, Shahini served as the Minister and Deputy Minister for Education, Sports and Youth in the Republic of Albania.
“Besa Shahini’s insight into the promises and challenges of a wider Europe have been an invaluable resource in the last academic year,” underlines President Woll. “With her inspiring career and hands-on experience, she was able to offer new perspectives on policy change, the process of enlargement and the Western Balkans to students and scholars alike.”
Carrying on Henrik Enderlein’s legacy with a focus on constitutional law
Morijn’s passion for applying academic scholarship to the policy world mirrors Henrik Enderlein’s life’s work and mission. Morijn shares Enderlein’s devotion to examining and promoting EU values in policymaking while asking pressing questions about the concept of democracy.
“During my tenure as Henrik Enderlein Fellow, I will explore a deceptively simple question: what does ‘democracy’ mean in European Union law and policy, and what should it mean?” he says. The question is all the more pertinent in the wake of the June European Parliament elections and a ruling by the German Federal Supreme Court that creates tension between European and national interpretations of democracy. In exploring this topic, Morijn will work closely with the Hertie School’s Centre of Fundamental Rights and Jacques Delors Centre.
“There remains a strong tension between pressures to Europeanise the concept of democracy, based on EU treaties, and pressures to Germanise it, based on the Federal Constitutional Court's reading of what kind of democracy is allowed for Germans to be involved in,” he says. “Researching in Berlin, immersed in the Hertie School's vibrant intellectual community, will provide an apt environment to explore this complex issue.”
About the Henrik Enderlein Fellowship
The Henrik Enderlein Fellowship commemorates the Hertie School’s late President and founder of the Jacques Delors Centre Henrik Enderlein. It is awarded annually to outstanding personalities dedicated to a strong European Union and enables regular research stays at the Hertie School for scholars, policymakers and academics. The fellowship contributes to building networks that bring together stakeholders from science, policy and politics in tackling urgent issues on the European and national agenda. The Henrik Enderlein Fellowship is funded by Stiftung Mercator.
About the Hertie School
For 20 years, the Hertie School has been teaching, researching and communicating on issues of policymaking and good governance in the heart of Berlin. The public policy school offers master's degrees, doctoral programmes and customised training for public sector leaders. Under the guiding principle “Understand today. Shape tomorrow.”, around 150 academics conduct research at the Hertie School. The university’s hallmark is its practice-oriented teaching and international orientation. Six Centres of Competence strengthen its expertise in European affairs, international security, fundamental rights, sustainability, digital governance, and data science. The Hertie School was founded in 2004 by the non-profit Hertie Foundation and has been largely supported by it ever since. It is state-recognised and accredited by the German Council of Science and Humanities.
About Stiftung Mercator
Stiftung Mercator is a private, independent and non-profit foundation that acts on the basis of scientific expertise and practical project experience. Since 1996, it has been advocating for a society based on solidarity and participation. To this end, it supports and develops projects that improve participation and cohesion in an increasingly diverse community. Stiftung Mercator stands up for a cosmopolitan, democratic Europe, a digital transformation of state and society based on fundamental rights, and socially just climate change mitigation. Stiftung Mercator pursues activities in Germany, Europe and worldwide. It feels particularly connected to the Ruhr area, home of its founder’s family and the foundation’s headquarters.