ERA - Upcoming Conferences (Septembrer, October 2009)

ACADÉMIE DE DROIT EUROPÉEN - ACADEMY OF EUROPEAN LAW - EUROPÄISCHE RECHTSAKADEMIE - ACCADEMIA DI DIRITTO EUROPEO (ERA):

-Annual Conference on European Family Law. Focus on children’s rights (Trier, 28 September 2009 – 29 September 2009). The 2009 edition of this annual conference on the latest developments in European family law will focus on children’s rights and parental responsibility.
The first conference day will focus on child protection in Europe, including protection measures in international conventions and in European law. A discussion of parental disputes over custody and care will follow. In many European countries new legislation has been introduced on the child’s right to be heard when matters of custody, residence or visitation rights are at stake.
On the second day, the conference will look at the concept of parental responsibility from different angles, including the concept of a multi-parent family and the parental responsibility of same sex partners. One striking development is the emerging legislation and jurisprudence on new methods of procreation: legal problems arising from new artificial conception technologies are numerous, including the difficult question of whether (and when) the child has a right to information about his or her biological parents. Legal practitioners and academics in the field of family law will report on the current situation in several European jurisdictions.
Finally, the state of play in the drafting of new legal instruments in the field of European family law and law of succession will be presented.
Más información: Academy of European Law (ERA).

-Annual Conference on European Consumer Law 2009. Recent developments (Trier, 1 October 2009 – 2 October 2009). The purpose of this annual conference is to analyse the current state of EU consumer protection law and the most important recent EU initiatives in this field. This year’s event will pay particular attention to the progress achieved in two very current topics:
The review of the consumer acquis: With the objective of removing regulatory barriers and improving the EU consumer regulatory framework, the European Commission is undertaking a review of the consumer acquis through:

• The proposal for a Directive on Consumer Rights: aimed at merging, updating, modernising and strengthening provisions in the key problematic areas of four existing EU consumer directives (consumer sales, unfair contract terms, distance selling and doorstep selling).
• The revision of the Package Travel Directive: following an impact assessment to be conducted in 2009, the Commission may present a proposal on a revised Directive in 2010.

Collective redress: With the aim of creating an effective collective redress mechanism in Europe, two initiatives are on the agenda of the European Commission:

• Consumer collective redress: The European Commission recently published a Green Paper setting out the possible options to ensure that consumers harmed by a single trader's practice can be compensated for their losses whilst avoiding unfounded claims. A legislative proposal could follow this year.
• Damages actions for breach of EC antitrust rules: The White Paper adopted by the European Commission suggests specific policy choices and measures that would help give all victims of infringements of EC competition law access to effective redress mechanisms so that they can be fully compensated for the harm they suffer.

Más información: Academy of European Law (ERA).

-Annual Conference on Private International and Business Law. Rome I, Brussels I, West Tankers and Cartesio (Trier, 8 October 2009 – 9 October 2009). The seminar will provide practitioners with an analysis of the latest developments in both legislation and jurisprudence in private international and business law.
Conflict of laws
The seminar will focus on the new Regulation on the law applicable to contractual obligations (“Rome I”) which will apply from 17 December 2009. The Regulation will be presented and carefully analysed.
European Civil Procedure
In the light of the recent case law of the ECJ, the seminar will address the Brussels I Regulation (e.g. Allianz v West Tankers) and its review. The Hague Convention on Choice of Court Agreements will also be on the agenda.
European Company Law
On 16 December 2008, the ECJ delivered its long-awaited judgment in the Cartesio case. Participants will discuss the current state of play regarding the transfer of a company’s seat.
Más información: Academy of European Law (ERA).

-The European Evidence Warrant. The Acquisition and Admissibility of Foreign Evidence (Dublin, 9 October 2009 – 10 October 2009). Following the European Arrest Warrant, a second major EU instrument for mutual recognition was adopted in December 2008: the European Evidence Warrant (EEW). The first step to simplify and accelerate the process of gathering foreign evidence in the EU occurred in 2003 with the introduction of the Framework Decision on the execution of orders freezing property or evidence. Whereas under the Framework Decision the transfer of evidence occurs under mutual assistance procedures, the EEW will apply the principle of mutual recognition. This means a judicial decision to obtain objects, documents and data for use in criminal proceedings issued by a competent authority in one Member State will be directly recognised and enforced by a competent authority in another Member State.
EU Member States are now required to implement the warrant in national law. The problems and questions arising will be presented and discussed in the form of presentations, panel discussions and case scenarios by leading EU and national experts at this conference: What will the national implementation solutions be? To what extent can they differ between Member States? What materials may actually be sought under an EEW? Which authorities will be competent to issue and execute an EEW? What are the roles for Eurojust and the EJN? What safeguards exist? Will the defence also have the right to seek and obtain an EEW?
The conference will also consider the second stage proposal planned to cover evidence currently excluded from the EEW.
Más información: Academy of European Law (ERA).

-Complying with WTO Law in the EU. Legal Framework, Regulatory Restrictions and Enforcement (Trier, 12 October 2009 – 13 October 2009). The aim of this seminar is to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of WTO law and its effects on EU and national legislation.
WTO law and particularly its dispute settlement system have had a significant impact on the development of trade relations between its parties as well as on the development of national law and the law of regional organisations such as the EU. The seminar provides an opportunity to study the characteristics of the WTO legal system by examining its institutional structure as well as the structure and contents of its basic agreements. It will also focus on the role that WTO standards play when laying down national and EU standards that hinder trade and when such standards comply with WTO law. Particular attention will be paid the enforcement of WTO law and its effect in the Community legal system.
Más información: Academy of European Law (ERA).