A comprehensive programme of
annual conferences
Despite the increasing number of areas in which EU law applies and the growing “Europeanisation” of domestic law, ERA has faced the challenge of maintaining diversity and scope in its conference programme over the years. This has been a critical component of our strategy, both during and after the pandemic, as we have updated, deepened, and adjusted the programme to align with the evolving training requirements and expectations of legal professionals. The consistent range of annual conferences, which are designed to provide legal practitioners with the most recent information on recent legislation and case law, introduce policy debates that will influence the future landscape of the legal field, is indicative of these programme developments.
In 2024, this successful formula covered topics ranging from AML and financial compliance, artificial intelligence and fundamental rights to border management, consumer law, company law and corporate governance, competition law, consumer law, copyright law, criminal law, data protection law, disability law, environmental law, family law, financial market regulation and supervision, food law, immigration law, labour law, media law, patent law, public procurement, state aid law, social security law, succession law, sustainable finance, VAT law, and white collar crimes. These highly technical events are aimed at specialists who wish to stay up-to-date in their respective fields and each year draw in a large number of legal practitioners from all over Europe.
The most well-attended annual events in 2024 were the Annual Conference on European Public Procurement Law, which was attended by 101 participants (47 attending in Trier and 54 joining online) and attracted a number of high-level speakers including Christopher Bovis (Professor of Business Law, Business School, University of Hull), Roberto Caranta (Professor of Administrative Law, University of Turin, Coordinator of the SAPIENS Network) and Deividas Soloveičik (Partner, Head of Public Procurement Practice, COBALT Lithuania, Vilnius).
The Annual Conference on Family Law was implemented in Barcelona in cooperation with the Col-legi Notarial de Catalunya with 75 face-to-face and 16 online participants, which addressed the protection of vulnerable adults and the recent proposals of the European Commission in this respect. Another focal point was the preparation and drafting of marriage contracts which are particularly challenging in cross-border situations. The conference finally discussed the latest case law in the area of European and international family law.
The Annual Conference on AML and Financial Supervision reached out to 83 participants (38 face-to-face and 45 online). The programme came at a very timely moment as it corresponded to the start of operation of the EU AML package of measures (published in the OFEU in June 2024), including the creation of AMLA as a new EU Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism. Speakers represented the main actors of the sector: European Commission (DG FISMA), chief compliant authorities who gave their practical insight together with representatives from the industry, EU agency (ESA), EBF, and representatives of enforcement authorities.
There was an increased interest in the Annual Conference on Social Security, which was attended by 82 participants from 17 different countries, where issues such as digitalisation in social security coordination, cross-border telework or the latest CJUE jurisprudence were discussed, and in the Annual Conference on Asylum and Immigration law with 70 participants.
For all of these events, ERA regularly welcomes judges from the Court of Justice of the EU and the European Court of Human Rights, as well as high-ranking EU officials, as speakers. All in all, practitioners participated in the 27 annual conferences offered in 2024. Most of the annual conferences were implemented in a hybrid format, with 22 in total (10% increase since 2023), while five were available only to online audience and the remaining one was implemented in Brussels with participants in the room.
Events on very
specific topics
In addition to its annual conferences, ERA offers ad hoc events on various specific topics. For example, in March 2024, ERA implemented a webinar entitled “Social Network Investigations: from likes to evidence”. Social networks have become crucial tools for communication and information exchange. However, they also present unique challenges for investigators who seek to uncover and analyse data that may be relevant to criminal investigations. This webinar was designed to equip legal practitioners with the necessary skills and knowledge to conduct effective investigations in the world of social media. It scrutinised the fundamental principles of social network investigation, including the collection, analysis, and presentation of data from social media platforms. Participants were introduced to the various tools and techniques used in social network investigation, including open-source intelligence tools (OSINT) gathering, data mining, social network analysis and digital forensics.
In April 2024, more than 180 participants from 30 different countries attended the half-day webinar on “Legal Aspects of Gender Identity in Europe” which was organised together with Peter Dunne (University of Bristol) and Marjolein van den Brink (Utrecht University) and co-financed by UK Research and Innovation, Future Leaders Fellowship, The online conference started with a presentation of the recent case law of the CJEU and the ECtHR on non-discrimination and the right to gender identity. It presented national experience on gender diversity across Europe and concluded with a debate on children’s gender identity, their rights but also the need for child protection in this regard.
Quantum computing & data security, policing UEFA/Olympics, AI, identity theft, disinformation and law enforcement and national security in the fight against serious crime and terrorism were the key topics of the 2024 edition of the EDEN conference organised by ERA, together with Europol’s Data Protection Experts Network (EDEN). More than 100 participants attended the conference, which took place at Europol’s headquarters in The Hague, and listened to more than 30 experts from law enforcement, data protection, academia and politics from across the EU. Keynote speakers included Catherine De Bolle, Executive Director of Europol, Nataša Pirc Musar, President of the Republic of Slovenia, Wojciech Wiewiorowski, European Data Protection Supervisor, and Olivier Onidi, Deputy Director-General of DG HOME at the European Commission.
In 2024 ERA organised three seminars of its advanced competition law training series: one in Athens (in cooperation with the Hellenic Competition Authority), one in Budapest (in cooperation with the Hungarian Competition Authority), and one in Valletta (in cooperation with the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Agency). The primary aim of these decentralised advanced seminars was to bring ERA’s competition law programme closer to national competition experts and to establish closer cooperation with national partner institutions, in particular with national competition authorities, which are one of the main target groups of ERA’s competition law events. Each of the seminars was aimed at discussing in detail a specific antitrust law topic (economics of EU competition law, dawn raids and cartel enforcement respectively) through a combination of frontal presentations and practical sessions. The seminars were attended by a total of 88 participants from national competition authorities, private practice and companies, who had the opportunity to benefit from advanced competition law training by high-level speakers from the Court of Justice of the EU, the European Commission, top-ranking law firms and academia.
For the second consecutive time, ERA, in cooperation with Maastricht University, offered a litigation course for European patent attorneys. This accredited course was again fully booked. It aims to equip participants with essential skills for effective litigation before the Unified Patent Court. The course culminates in the EPLC certificate delivered after an examination composed of written and oral submissions (Moot courts), and a final oral examination. Providing valuable insights for patent litigators looking to deepen their understanding of European patent law and the UPC rules of procedure, the course features a blend of face-to-face and online sessions, ensuring flexibility, a strong focus on practical skills and a made to measure learning environment. Over two intensive weeks at ERA in Trier, participants engaged in mock trials centred on patent legal matters. Emphasis is on practical application, allowing attendees to navigate the UPC rules of procedure and their judicial interpretations. Trainers are highly experienced experts in patent law and litigation, including representatives from the UPC. A visit to the CJEU and the UPC Court of Appeal makes this course unique, by providing concrete insight into the inner workings of these institutions and ultimately offering a better understanding of the UPC system.
In September 2024 ERA organised an event on strategic fundamental rights litigation. The objective of the seminar was to provide concise, intensive training in strategic fundamental rights litigation to legal professionals. The 33 participants had various legal profiles, including lawyers in private practice, in-house counsels, NGO staff, EU officials and ministry officials. Within the seminar they not only gained up-to-date theoretical knowledge on admissibility criteria of the regional courts but also receive practical advice regarding the litigation at the CJEU and ECtHR. They learn key aspects of strategic litigation from experienced lawyers, including case management, selection of cases, legal argumentation as well as the role of academics and experts in court cases. A visit to the CJEU and attendance of a hearing granted further insight into the workings of fundamental rights protection in Europe.
In 2024, ERA offered three events on EU Staff Regulations: a summer course (in person) as an introduction to this area of law, an online seminar on EU Civil Service Law which focused on selected legal questions, and an online event on recent case law of the Court of Justice of the EU in staff cases, which presented the most important judgments of the previous 12 months.
In March 2024, ERA organised a webinar on “Protecting Women from Violence in Europe”. The webinar aimed to provide participants with an in-depth understanding of the different ways in which the legal systems in Europe, including the Council of Europe and the EU, protect women from violence. To this end, the seminar reviewed the current legislative framework as well as the latest judicial decisions. In addition, participants discuss the protection of women against new forms of violence, such as cyberviolence, within the webinar. The participant group of 34 participants was diverse, including judges as biggest group, but also ministry officials and civil servants as well as lawyers in private practice.
In April 2024, ERA organised a webinar entitled “European Corporate Taxation Law: Recent Developments” that provided the participants with up-to-date information on the most recent developments in legislation and jurisprudence in the field of corporate taxation. The programme focused this year on matters relating to the implementation of the Pillar 2 Directive and its impact on businesses both inside and outside the EU, as well as on the recent ‘Business in Europe: Framework for Income Taxation’ (BEFIT) proposals. Furthermore, the latest activities of the European Commission and the recent case law of the CJEU in the area of corporate taxation were discussed. The online event was attended by 62 participants and speakers. The majority of the participants were national judges.
In September 2024, ERA organised a webinar on Liability in the Value Chain, discussing the highly controversial Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive which was attended by 45 participants from 19 different States. This compact online seminar brought together experts, ministry officials, lawyers and in-house counsel to explain who has what obligations under the new directive, what sanctions to expect and how it interacts with other EU and national legislation. It concluded with a lively panel discussion on practical compliance.
The Association of EU Data Protection Judges (AEDPJ) was founded in 2021 with the support of ERA. In 2024, ERA continued its salient work in the field of data protection law. Currently the association is composed of 47 members, 11 of whom joined the AEDPJ in 2024. In order to fulfil its supporting mission, ERA organised a conference and two webinars in 2024: on Privacy and profiling of judges with the use of judicial analytics and on Artificial Intelligence and data protection. The online seminar on Artificial Intelligence, data governance and data protection in Europe, which was attended by more than 40 legal practitioners, addressed regulatory tendencies and provided the opportunity to discuss current legal reforms in the given area of law. The online seminar Recent case law of the CJEU and ECtHR on privacy and data protection attracted the attention of more than 45 participants. Following current legislative developments ERA organised an online seminar on Digital Services Act (DSA), which focused on challenges in its implementation and enforcement. This webinar was attended by more than 70 participants.
A platform for the discussion of legal policy
In line with its statute, ERA does not confine itself to the dissemination of European law via training but also serves as a European platform for the discussion of legal policy. In doing so, ERA attaches great importance to remaining neutral and independent, for example, by not becoming directly involved in the drafting of specific legal policies. ERA’s neutrality and independence have given it a role in a number of topical and fundamental debates at European level. The aim of such events is to stimulate reflection on future political developments in a field of law or, where future legislation is already at an advanced stage, to put forward practical considerations from legal practitioners and stakeholders for the evaluation of the proposed legislation.
In 2022 ERA created the European Forum for the Legal Professions, which aims to launch a structured dialogue among the representatives of the professions where common challenges and concerns could be addressed and analysed at EU level. The Forum became a collaborative and evolving project among these professions, where ERA plays the role of a facilitator. In 2024 ERA organised the third conference of the Forum entitled “Improving Justice through Innovation – From Challenges and Needs to Best Practice”. The hybrid event organised in Brussels attracted over 500 legal practitioners. In 2024 ERA also launched a LinkedIN profile dedicated to the Forum, where testimonial videos were published before the conference.
Closer cooperation with the Western Balkan countries
In cooperation with the Serbian Judicial Academy, ERA implemented 3 seminars in Belgrade. The first seminar was designed for Serbian judges and lawyers in private practice dealing with consumer cases, the second seminar aimed at sharing advanced knowledge and exchanging experience and best practice among Serbian judges, prosecutors and lawyers in private practice who deal with intellectual property cases. It offered an opportunity to have a lively discussion with qualified and experienced speakers invited by ERA, among who a member of the EUIPO Boards of Appeal who shared her litigation experience on trademark and design law. The third seminar updated Serbian judges on European asylum law. All seminars were implemented with simultaneous interpretation and were attended by 70 Serbian legal practitioners.
Two seminars were organised in partnership with the Albanian School of Magistrates in Tirana, focusing on gender-based violence and AI and fundamental rights. Both 1.5-day seminars were offered in Albanian and English through interpretation and were attended by Albanian judges and prosecutors with the aim of providing them a sense of European policies and development in the respective area. The seminar on AI aimed at providing 28 participants with an introduction to the concept of AI and its influence in society as well as an update regarding the current regulatory efforts on the regional level on the first day. A case study allowed participants to apply the knowledge in practice. The second day focused on the impact of AI on the judiciary with a presentation and a discussion on how to integrate new technologies in judicial practice.
The seminar on gender-based violence gave an overview of the current legal landscape surrounding gender-based violence, especially the Council of Europe and EU legislation. The 19 participants practised the acquired knowledge in a case study on the European legal framework in practice. The afternoon then also focused on the Albanian transposition of those laws, including a workshop to discuss those developments. On the second day, the focus was on cyberviolence as a new form of gender-based violence arriving at courts.
Aside of these seminars, ERA organised a high-level conference in Sarajevo for the legal practitioners of the Western Balkan countries entitled to “The Legal Professions and the Media: Worst Friends or Best Enemies?”. The opening words of the bilingual conference were given by Davor Bunoza, Minister of Justice of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The conference was attended by 65 judges and prosecutors coming from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Kosovo*, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia.