His academic qualifications include: First State Examination, University of Mannheim, Germany, 1989; Second State Examination, Superior Provincial Court Saarbrücken, Germany, 1992; Certificate of Euro­pean Studies, Europa-Institute, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany, 1991; Dr Iur, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany, 1995; Habilitation, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany, 2002.