After 6 months in Bonn and Merni, I think I can provide you with some inside info on the programme. This is a Legal master with a strong technical and economical approach on what is known as the Utilities.
I, as a lawyer, chose it because I wanted to get more insight of economics and I actually got more than I expected. Now I can easily discuss with economists on economic regulatory models and with engineers on ideal pipeline pressures!!! It is a fascinating master due to the fact that you get educated on extremely important sectors like telecommunications (for instance mobile and broadband markets). In energy sector we deal with electricity and gas matters with a fourfold approach: legal, economics, business models , technology. The curriculum covers also rail and aviation transportation, post and water services which are equally interesting and exciting. It is not easy to find a place that you can get so diverse knowledge.
We cover the whole band of competition law (81-89EC) and all the relevant directives for the specific sectors. In each sector we learn about the different economic regulatory approaches which are tailored for the specific technological needs.
It is quite fascinating to get educated by people from the Commission and professors that have written books that are being taught all over the world. We can actually see from our classroom window the big building of the National Regulatory Authority (BNetzA) which for each sector, sends people for workshops and explain the main issues that they are currently dealing with.
Each of the specific sector is being taught in 1,2 or 3 days long seminars so be prepared to spend long hours in the classroom. After a while you get used to the system!
If you have an economic or technical background though, I would advise you to apply for MERNI only if you are interested mostly in legal matters, since this is the main focus of the studies.
Id be happy to give you any additional inside info for MERNI and my studying here as the year goes by.

Hello, I am from Chile and I am very interested in this programme. My main interest however is to focus research or case study in comparative law/regulation, so I would like to know if the programme focuses only in the EU or wether it also considers comparative studies.

Thanks!!

Hi,
Sneek preview of the last module just for you:
In the water sector Chile has a unique method of price cap regulation with the so called virtual operator as a form of creating a benchmark. This is one of the things I was studying today for my last Water exam

You ask about comparative regulation and the answer is definitely yes, we study comparative regulation. Mainly for post, rail and water where the Member states have chosen different regulatory methods for access to the networks and pricing. In Energy and Telecommunications is the same but with a stronger focus on the German example.

Foreign cases like USAs are always under investigation but the general idea is the analysis of the European regulatory regime.

Regulation is always by comparison since each MS seeks to find the best solution that matches the maturity of the economy and the public acceptance.

Hope that helps

Hello, and thank you very much for your prompt answer, I am impressed that you studied the chilean water sector case. I am interested in the study of the East Asian Region, particularly China.
Your answer was really useful!
Kind regards,
Bernardita

Hello,

I am a Portuguese Lawyer and was accepted to the next edition of the merni (study year 2009/2010).

If possible I would like to know a little bit more from the experience from the applicants from previous years and also to get to know people that is going to study in Bonn next year.

thank you

Manuel

This programm seems really interesting but I wonder if its technical and economical approach is too difficult for a person with a legal backround alone. Like me. Any information?

Hi Ευτυχία,

I did MERNI in 2008 and I don't have input from the following years however i'll share my experiences with you from then.

There is a balance between different modules. The most stringent modules for lawyers are probably electricity and gas economics.
However professors have an understanding of the fact that people have different education backgrounds and their expectations are down to earth.Don't forget that there are also economists in the program and they'll surely have some difficulties with legal modules ;)
If you are really into this type of studies (i.e. regulation and competition) an understanding of economics and technology of the sectors is ABSOLUTELY imperative in order to score a good job later.
Companies and the Commission are looking for lawyers with diversified education and MERNI can provide you with adequate input in order to understand the complexities of economic assessment of competition.
For instance how can say you are a telecomms expert if you cant understand how a mobile phone works or how data are transferred via the web?
Same applies to energy. How can you work as a regulator if you don't know electricity is a different thing than gas?
Trust on this one, economics and especially technology modules tend to be the most interesting parts of the program!

Hello,

My name is Manuel and I am a Portuguese Lawyer that did Merni in 2009. Firstly, I completely subscribe the previous assessment. Secondly, I must admit that for me MERNI was definitely the right option.

Best Regards,
Manuel

Thanks for the information both of you! I' me very intrested in this program, but a little confused about the admission's criteria. Which is the profile of the candidate that will be accepted? And what could they ask at the interview? General things or specific knowledge in economical, thechnical and legal aspects?

Hi,
the interview is pretty straight forward, at least when mine was done. The concept is to make sure that you understand what the program is about (competition law with some economics and technology) and to make sure you are not having false expectations from the program. Also they shall give you some input on other candidates' profiles and life in Bonn. (not my favorite I must admit!)
For conversational convenience make sure you have read, at least, the descriptions of the modules from the MERNI website and ask the administration to provide you with access to the examples of previous modules that they have uploaded at the website. ;)
I don't believe that the interview has an "assessment" criterion i.e. to check whether you are a "guru" of regulation. Nobody expects you to be one.
A lot of people expect you to be after MERNI, though! (LOL)

Best,
Elvis