The XXXI FIDE Congress—four days filled with lectures, meetings and inspiring conversations among international participants—has now concluded. From 28 to 31 May, Katowice was the European centre of debate on the future of European law.
The FIDE Congress, held in Poland for the first time in its history, focused on three topics in the field of European law:
- EU emergency law.
- EU regulation of digital services and markets (DSA and DMA).
- Solidarity and energy security in the context of green transition and crisis management.
Young FIDE Seminar
We started the FIDE Congress with the Young FIDE seminar. The event, held at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Silesia, gathered young researchers who had the opportunity to present their work and take part in discussions with outstanding EU law specialists and fellow participants. The seminar was inaugurated by a lecture ‘Young Wolves Should Be Eager To Make Their Mark: Some Ideas and Suggestions from an Older Wolf’ delivered by Prof. Eleanor Sharpston (former Advocate General of the CJEU). Future leaders of EU law were then able to share their achievements during thematic sessions on the three key issues of the Congress. The event was attended by, among others, Prof. Eleanor Sharpston, Prof. Miguel Poiares Maduro and Prof. Michal Bobek.
FIDE Congress
The first day began with an official opening ceremony attended by distinguished representatives of EU institutions, academia, justice and public life, including:
- Adam Bodnar – Minister of Justice;
- Marzena Czarnecka –Minister of Industry;
- Adam Szłapka – Minister for European Union Affairs;
- Michael McGrath– EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection;
- Koen Lenaerts – President of the Court of Justice of the European Union;
- Marc van der Woude – President of the General Court of the European Union;
- Stephan Harbarth – President of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany;
- Sacha Prechal– Professor of European Law at Utrecht University;
- Maciej Szpunar– first Advocate General of the CJEU, President of FIDE 2023-2025;
- Claire Bazy Malaurie– President of the Venice Commission;
- Leszek Pietraszek– Vice-Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship;
- Waldemar Bojarun – Vice-Mayor of Katowice;
- Ryszard Koziołek– Rector of the University of Silesia;
- Joseph Weiler– Professor at the NYU School of Law, Senior Fellow at the Center for European Studies, Harvard.
After the official opening, it was time for the plenary debate ‘The Role of Courts in Democratic Societies’. Discussions with leading representatives of European justice and legal science were devoted to the role of courts in democratic systems. Then participants were able to listen to discussions on crisis law, as well as EU digital regulations and energy solidarity as part of the thematic sessions. The entire day full of debates and meetings ended with an evening gala.
Day two – EU law in the face of emergencies, digital changes and energy issues
The second day of the FIDE Congress was full of intense debates and analyses. Thematic expert sessions focused primarily on the mechanisms of implementing crisis law in EU countries, the challenges of DSA/DMA coordination and enforcement, as well as the links between energy transition and crisis management. Between panels, participants could integrate in the areas meant for a moment of relaxation and networking. The official culmination of the day-long meetings was a concert—the Famous Serenade from the film by Miloš Forman, which took place at the seat of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Day three – recaps
The last day of the Congress was primarily an opportunity for reflection and summarising all the topics of the session. The focal points of the programme were the presentation of the Charter of the European Law Institute (ELI), a Fireside Chat with Anne Applebaum and a presentation by the IRENA AND JERZY WISZNIEWSKI FOUNDATION. The Congress concluded with a closing ceremony during which we met the host of FIDE 2027—in two years we will meet in Helsinki!
We would like to thank everyone present at the XXXI FIDE Congress: participants, speakers, organisers, partners and sponsors of the event! This year’s edition will go down in history as a unique forum for the exchange of ideas, experiences and visions for the future of European law.
See you in Finland at the XXXII FIDE Congress!
ORGANISERS:
- The Polish Association for European Law (Polskie Stowarzyszenie Prawa Europejskiego, PSPE)
- University of Silesia
- City of Katowice
HOST REGION:
- The Host Region of the XXXI Congress of the International Federation of European Law (FIDE) is the Silesian Voivodeship, which provided funding for the implementation of the project from the budget of the Silesian Voivodeship.
MAIN SPONSOR:
MAIN PARTNER:
YOUNG FIDE PARTNER:
- National Council of Bailiffs
- Polish National Council of Notaries
HONORARY PATRONAGE:
- Ministry of Justice of the Prosecutor General Adam Bodnar
- Minister for European Union Affairs during the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2025
- Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship Wojciech Saługa
- Minister of Industry Marzena Czarnecka
MEDIA PATRONAGE: