Dear colleagues and members of the Balkan Association of Roman Law and Roman Legal Tradition,

Dear friends,

In 2020, we found ourselves in an extraordinary situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which changed our lives and put humanity to the test. The doors of the universities closed for a while, but the scientific research and academic education continued their path and progress.

In 2016, the Faculty of Law of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” initiated the establishment of the Balkan Association of Roman Law and Roman Legal Tradition, to which we gave the name “Societas pro Iure Romano” (S.I.R.). The Association organized four international conferences with great success – in Sofia, Nis, Skopje and Kragujevac. Reports and articles from these conferences were published in the online review IUS ROMANUM in issue № II for the respective year. The number of members of the Association from the Balkan countries, as well as from other European countries, already exceeds 80. The Association has established itself as a prestigious organization of researchers and teachers of Roman law in Europe and, although still with a brief history, the Association has ambitions for prosperous development.

Considering the situation, especially the unpredictability of the pandemic in every corner of Europe, and in order to protect the health of all – scientists, teachers and their students, associates and all who are interested in Roman law – the members of the Administrative Council of the Association decided to postpone for one year the next international conference of the Balkan Association scheduled for the beginning of September 2020 on the topic „MARE NOSTRUM“. The conference would have been organized in Varna with the kind hospitality and partnership of Varna Free University. Our Association is a forum for personal meetings, friendship and cooperation, and the theme and venue – Varna as successor of the ancient Odessos – one of the most beautiful Bulgarian seaside towns, undoubtedly predispose for such a fruitful and pleasant meeting.

The Administrative Council proposes, with the assistance of the Faculty of Law of Sofia University, which is ready to take responsibility for the development of the Association, , despite the difficulties and challenges, to organize in 2020 the Fifth International Conference of the Balkan Association of Roman Law and Roman Legal Tradition.

We hope that you will approve our proposal by participating in this forum, which is scheduled for October 28, 2020 in the Conference Hall of Sofia University. As it is unknown for the moment what the epidemic situation would be in Bulgaria, the Balkans and in Europe, the colleagues from Sofia University are about to provide an opportunity to realize the conference both in person and online. If conditions allow, a reception will be organized for all participants as guests of the conference. There will be exact information about the organization at the end of September. Even if there is no opportunity for personal presence, modern means of communication and the accumulated experience in holding different forums in extraordinary conditions (unfortunately by necessity) will help us to continue the tradition of our Association.