The researcher
The building of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (Photo: Nextage Production Ltd.)
In 1960, Ferenc Mádl officialy joined the Institute of Political Science and Law of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences on a part-time basis. One of his research areas was private international law, the rules of which were considered crucial in securing economic relations between the East and the West. This research area soon led him to join the research group on the legal structure of the Eastern and Western economic integration regimes, which analysed the legal substance and development of the European Economic Communities (EEC), and the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) respectively. Thirdly, he continued his research on civil liability, which he summarised in his 1964 doctoral thesis (Tort Liability in the Light of the Development of Society and Law), following several research trips abroad.
This was later published as a book and the author was awarded the Academy Prize for his work.
Diploma of the Academy Prize (courtesy of Mádl family, with approval of András Mádl)
During his research in the field of private international law, partly in the United States of America (1967), Mádl showed great interest in the development of Hungarian regulations in this field, and his work in this area culminated in the final draft of the Code of Private International Law (1979).
The published text of the Decree-Law on Private International Law in the „Magyar Közlöny” [Hungary’s Official Gazette] (Photo: Endre Domaniczky)
His research into the law of international economic relations, which was initially partly related to the study of private international law and partly based on the comparative analysis of the EEC and COMECON law, can also be traced back to his academic years, but it was only after Mádl’s return to the University of ELTE that his research developed in its entirety.