BALEX is a legal competence cluster which aims at filling the current void in legal research and training on Baltic Sea issues. BALEX was established by the University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University in 2014.

The Baltic Sea is unique in many ways, including the way it is governed and regulated. It is arguably the most heavily regulated sea area in the world with up to six layers of regulation applying there at the same time. This aspect of the Baltic Sea has not received much attention so far. BALEX was established to change this.

BALEX is an international legal competence cluster, established in 2014 in Turku, Finland, by the University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, and working with collaborators throughout the Baltic Sea region. BALEX aims at filling the current void in legal research and training on Baltic Sea issues. The focus of BALEX is on legal research, interdisciplinary academic and vocational training and public events; the aims are to:

• carry out high quality legal research in matters that are of relevance for – and common to – the Baltic Sea region, and encourage young scientists within the scope of Baltic Sea research
• offer interdisciplinary academic training programs for students, including tailor-made courses on legislation and governance in the region and, in the longer run, possibly summer schools or postgraduate programs in Baltic Sea law
• provide vocational training for lawyers, civil servants and officials in the Baltic Sea region
• organize guest-lectures, conferences and workshops on topical themes.