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We would like to respond to the news article concerning the European School of Economics ("Basic economics: make sure the staff are paid", 23 August).

The coverage appeared well after the few recent glitches in the disbursement of staff compensation at ESE London. We deeply regret these events but now have procedures in place that will prevent similar issues arising in future.

We also wish to clarify events in 2002 that were referenced in your article.

In October 2001, we faced an attack by the Italian state that questioned the validity of British degrees granted on Italian soil (and thus implied that our qualifications were invalid). This forced us into a David- and-Goliath struggle. We brought the matter before the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, where in November 2003 we won an unconditional victory. The court's ruling affirmed the validity of higher education degrees awarded by a European Union country in any other member state.

Laura Mogavero, Managing director, European School of Economics