purpose is to create a platform for European scholars and students to understand Chinese law, for Chinese legal scholars and students to understand the European and international legal systems, as well as to support the Chinese Government in its effort to develop a society based on the rule of law. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso stated "of course there are hundreds of law schools in China. But this one has a special mission. It will be international and European, and it is committed to the pursuit of excellence through the quality of its students and its professors." Consortium CESL is based on a Sino-European consortium, consisting of thirteen European universities, two Chinese Universities, and the Chinese National Prosecutors College. "China-EU School of Law partners belong to the best universities worldwide." These include: the China University of Political Science and Law (China), the University of Hamburg (Germany), Tsinghua University (China), KU Leuven (Belgium), Maastricht University (Netherlands), Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), the Autonomous University of Madrid (Spain), the University of Bologna (Italy), Lund University (Sweden), Central European University (Hungary), Jagiellonian University (Poland), the University of Manchester (UK), the University of Strasbourg (France), the Vienna University of Economics and Business (Austria), Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary), and the National Prosecutors College (China). These partners provide teaching staff and co-financing. The consortium is co-ordinated by the University of Hamburg. CESL also has the official status of a department or school of the China University of Political Science and Law, itself "one of China's highest-ranking universities in the field of law." Reputation Considered one of the best law schools in Asia, and perhaps the best in China, CESL is very well regarded. It is the leading institution to study European and international law in China, as well as to learn Chinese law in English. The Asian Correspondent recognized the School as being "geared to educate the best of legal minds that practice within the framework of Sino-European relations." Nicolas Chapuis, Ambassador of the European Union to China said "CESL has proven to be a center of excellence in legal education. It also has created a unique platform for exchange between Chinese and European students, scholars and legal practitioners." Since CESL "attracts the best talent from China and Europe" it has been called "a rising star in China's legal education" and rankings confirm "CESL is a top School in Asia." The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation called CESL