The founding Charter as a formal act for establishment of the Network have been signed by ten public Law Faculties within the Universities from Tirana (Albania), Sarajevo and Zenica (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Zagreb and Split (Croatia), Belgrade, Nis and Kragujevac (Serbia), Skopje (Macedonia) and Montenegro (Montenegro). The project is supported by the German Government,  implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Open Regional Fund for South East Europe - Legal Reform.
The official ceremony was opened by the Rector of the University Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, Prof. Dr. Velimir Stojkovski who stressed the importance of the regional cooperation in development of higher education by referring to the SEELS Network as a model which can be used by other Networks in the future.
Prof. Dr. Borce Davitkovski, Dean of the Law Faculty Skopje, addressed the audience on behalf of the Law Faculties founders of SEELS. He draw attention to the commitment of the Law Faculties members of SEELS to further support euro-integrative processes of the SEE countries.
In this respect, Dr. Vasko Naumovski, the Vice-President of the Macedonian Government for European Affairs welcomed the initiative of the SEELS founders and their plans to act in direction of strengthening the public administration capacities and provision of mechanisms for better implementation of the responsibilities arisen by their aspirations for membership in the European Union.
The Ambassador of Federal Republic of Germany in Macedonia, Her Excellency Ms. Maria Ulrike Knotz congratulated to the participants for their engagements and expressed her expectations for SEELS as a Network having essential role on the way of SEE countries towards the EU.
On behalf of GIZ Open Regional Fund for SEE-Legal Reform, Dr. Thomas Meyer made brief overview of the steps undertaken for establishment of the SEELS Network as a formal structure. He expressed that continuing support provided by GIZ will be further present and the momentum of SEELS formal institutionalization means end of the development phase and beginning of the process of cooperation between the Law Faculties.
Mr. Virgil Ivan Cucu, on behalf of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) indicated  that support of SEELS by the RCC is not only an opportunity but as well a statutory duty. According to Mr. Cucu, SEELS will find its role in strengthening the institutional capacities of the participating countries, especially in training of judges and public prosecutors. The academic networking will bring end to the fragmentation of the regional processes.
The main objective of SEELS is to strengten cooperation and to increase the competitivness of the Law Faculties in the region, to promote better performance and capacity of the academic institutions.  By the establishment of SEELS regional mobility and exchange of legal academic knowledge, exeprience and information will be increased. The SEELS three pillar approach in the fields of education, research and publishing support the strategic orientation of the Law Faculties and gives opportunity for networking of three target groups (undergraduate, master and doctoral students; academic staff and legal professions) in the region of SEE.
Following the formal ceremony, the President of Macedonia, Prof. Dr. Gjorgje Ivanov made reception for international delegations and representatives from all Law Faculties. The SEELS Network