Johannes W. Pichler

Johannes W. Pichler

Johannes Werner Pichler (born July 1, 1947 in Linz, Austria) is Professor of European Legal Development at the University of Graz, Austria and Director of the Austrian Institute of Legal Policy in Salzburg .

Pichler studied law at the Universities of Vienna and Salzburg, where he earned his doctorate degree in 1971. He was Associate Professor for Legal History at the University of Salzburg before he became Full Professor for European Legal Development at the University of Graz in 1994. Since 1986 he has also been Director of the Austrian Institute of Legal Policy at the International Research Center in Salzburg.

Pichler is chairman of the Association Europe Needs Initiative e.V., whose central concern is the promotion of the European citizen's initiative under Article 8b (4) the Treaty of Lisbon.

Pichler was a member of the conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP). He resigned from the party when the ÖVP joined a governing coalition with Jörg Haider's populist-nationalistic Freedom Party (FPÖ).

He is married, has three children, and lives in Graz and Salzburg.