Speaker Announcement

We are delighted that

Prof. Mr. Dr. Justin Lindeboom

University of Groningen,

Associate Professor of Law 

and Jean Monnet Chair

will be speaking at the conference

THE RULE OF LAW IN CHALLENGING TIMES

Title:

Safeguarding the European rule of law

through national courts and litigants

Throughout the European Union, the rule of law, as well as more specifically "the rule of European law", is under threat. The uncomfortable truth is that this threat is not at all confined to usual suspects such as Hungary or Poland. In contrast, it runs through the DNA of how EU law is – and often is not! – implemented and enforced within the Member States. A genuine upholding of the European rule of law, including the "rule of European law" requires from all legal actors within the domestic legal orders of the Member States – including national courts but also, perhaps more importantly, litigants – a deep interest in, understanding of, and commitment to what EU law demands. Even more so, it requires thinking outside the box as regards the interaction and mutual influencing of EU law and national law, and even a willingness to search for legal problems, not solutions. The tendency of many legal scholars and practitioners alike is to look at the Court of Justice of the European Union for salvation. But as I shall argue, ultimately that Court cannot provide salvation: it is the national courts and the litigants in front of them that are essential to safeguarding the (European) rule of (European) law.