24/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - After the sudden decease of the Rector of the College of Europe, Piet Akkermans (see EUROPE of 20 June, p.18), a procedure has been launched to find a replacement. In the meantime, Professor Robert Picht, Director of the Department of European Interdisciplinary and General Studies at the College of Bruges, has been appointed as acting Rector. Professor Akkermans was Rector of the College of Europe since July 2001 only.