Endrius Cocciolo, new director of the Center for Environmental Law Studies
Endrius Cocciolo takes over a key position after nearly two decades under the orders of Antoni Pigrau. The change of director at the Centre for Environmental Law Studies of Tarragona (CEDAT) is not just a formality: it is a new boost for an institution with its own weight.
CEDAT and the Chair of Environmental Law Studies of Tarragona Alcalde Pere Lloret, linked to the Rovira i Virgili University, have experienced this transition with an event that, more than procedural, has been a tribute to a legacy and a commitment to the future.
The leadership change at the head of CEDAT
Who is Endrius Cocciolo?
The new director, associate professor of Administrative Law at URV, carries energy law and the ecological transition in his blood. Graduated from Università del Salento and doctor from the Autonomous University of Barcelona with cum laude honors, Cocciolo does not only accumulate titles: he also coordinates leading European projects, such as MSCA-DN THERESA, which trains professionals for a renewable hydrogen economy.
Antoni Pigrau and the legacy to surpass
The founder and former director, Antoni Pigrau, has been the soul of CEDAT for nearly twenty years. He not only created the institution but also built a solid and internationally recognized academic community. This is what Cocciolo now must maintain and grow, a task that will not be easy at all.
Goals and challenges of the new leadership
Consolidating a reference in environmental law
Cocciolo does not want to settle. He wants CEDAT to be the benchmark in Catalonia and Spain in environmental law, but also a space with global impact. The key? Environmental, climate, and energy justice, especially in a context full of challenges and complexities. A discourse that does not remain in words but translates into cutting-edge research and training.
Projects and social impact
The new director wants to strengthen research and the connection with society. The projects under his direction seek not only to produce knowledge but also to influence real policies and practices. The emphasis on justice (without filter) and energy as a backbone are the identity markers that will define CEDAT over the coming years.
The academic and scientific career of Endrius Cocciolo
Experience in European and national projects
Apart from MSCA-DN THERESA, Cocciolo has led initiatives such as the national project ComEnerSys, which deals with the regulation of community energy systems and energy flexibility. He also holds responsibility for various projects within the Industrial Doctorates program of the Government of Catalonia, a clear demonstration of his capacity to manage applied research.
His role in education and international forums
He is academic coordinator of the Interuniversity Master’s Degree in Public Administration Law and a prominent member of the European Environmental Law Forum. Moreover, he has been Co-Chair of the Research Committee of the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law, honoring his global vocation with a local perspective that he now leads in Tarragona.
The change of director at CEDAT confirms that the institution does not want to fall behind. With Cocciolo at the helm, Tarragona maintains a center with pedigree, but also with the desire to shake up the environmental law landscape.
Source of the article: Rovira i Virgili University
