Network Conference on Legal Developments in Europe and the Future of European Rule of Law

On 4 to 7 September 2018 the University Göttingen organizes a conference on ‘Legal Developments in Europe and the Future of European Rule of Law‘. The event is part of the annual activities of the Legal Research Network (LRN), composed of the law faculties of the U4 Universities as well as the Universities of Lille – Nord de France, Budapest – ELTE, Turkuu and Bristol.

The conference programme will be centered around various aspects of the rule of law as a founding principle, stemming from the common constitutional traditions of European States and a fundamental value upon which particularly the EU is based. In recent times the perception seems to persist that the European community of States is confronted with systemic threats to the rule of law among its members.

Could or do these disruptions amount to a ‘rule of law crisis’? Further it remains unclear in which dimension the concept of rule of law can and should be applied to the European Union itself or other European institutions. Problems in implementing and upholding rule of law may not only become visible in compliance with international or European Union law but also within domestic legal systems of European States themselves.

The conference invites especially young scholars and PhD students from LRN-universities to contribute to these and other questions related to the conference theme. The event shall open opportunities for scholars from different European countries to discuss their research and observations and share expertise in different legal systems and various approaches to the common European legal order.

The Conference venue will be the Paulinerkirche (historic building), Papendiek 14, 37073 Göttingen. After an introduction by the organizers on 04 September, parallel panels will be held on 05 and 06 September. The conference will be concluded on 07 September with final presentations by experienced scholars.