HIGH-LEVEL CONFERENCE Rule of Law in Europe 17 - 18 MAY

Convento de São Francisco (Coimbra, )

17 May

9.00 | 9.30 Opening Session

Manuel Machado, Mayor of Coimbra

Amílcar Falcão, Rector of University of Coimbra

Francisca Van Dunem, Minister of Justice of Portugal

Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice

Augusto Santos Silva, Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of Portugal

9.30 | 11.00 Session 1

The role of civil society for upholding the rule of law

This panel will discuss the role of civil society to uphold the rule of law and the ways to involve citizens in decision making.

Moderator: José Manuel Aroso de Linhares, Coimbra University, Faculty of Law

Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the LIBE Committee (pre-recorded message)

Stef Blok, Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands

Caroline Fennell, Chair of European Network of Human Rights Institutions (VTC)

Berber Biala-Hettinga, Senior Executive Officer of Amnesty International (VTC)

Pepijn Gerrits, Executive Director, The Netherlands Helsinki Committee

Dulce Lopes, University of Coimbra, Faculty of Law

11.15 | 12.45 Session 2

The role of European and national courts for upholding the rule of law

This panel will address the role of domestic and international courts as standard-setting institutions and conflict-resolution adjudicators (focus also on the implementation of judgments).

Moderator: Paulo Pinto de Albuquerque, Catholic University of Portugal, Faculty of Law

Robert Spano, President of the European Court of Human Rights

Koen Lenaerts, President of the European Court of Justice (VTC)

António Joaquim Piçarra, President of the Supreme Court of Justice of Portugal

Karoline Edtstadler, Federal Minister for the EU and Constitution at the Federal of (VTC)

Frank Clarke, representing Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts (VTC)

Pedro Caeiro, University of Coimbra, Faculty of Law

Pierre -Dominique Schupp, Vice-President of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (VTC)

José Manuel Quelhas, University of Coimbra, Faculty of Law

14.30 | 16.00 Session 3

Communicating the rule of law

It will explore the impact of the rule of law in citizens’ lives / exercise of rights and the importance of sharing good practices.

Moderator: Pedro Benevides, Journalist

Mark Ellis, Executive Director of International Bar Association IBA (VTC)

Filippo Donati, President of the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary (VTC)

Rui Cunha Martins, University of Coimbra, Faculty of Liberal Arts

Michael Meyer-Resende, Executive Director at Democracy Reporting International (VTC)

Elena Calistru, President of Funky Citizens

Alexandre Soveral Martins, University of Coimbra, Faculty of Law

16.15 | 17.30 Session 4

The rule of law under the Treaty Moderator: Mariana Martins Pereira, Lawyer

Nuno Piçarra, Judge at the Court of Justice of the European Union (VTC)

Ana Gaudêncio, University of Coimbra, Faculty of Law

Elzbieta Chojna-Duch, University of Warsaw

Alessandra Silveira, University of Minho, School of Law (VTC)

András Jakab, University of

Portuguese Musical Moment

18 May

9.00 | 10.30 Session 5

The rule of law in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

This panel will explore how rule of law is important in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular for the oversight of the emergency measures and to better protect human rights, including those of minorities and most vulnerable groups in Europe.

Moderator: Jónatas Machado, University of Coimbra, Faculty of Law

Clément Beaune, Secretary of State for European Affairs of France

Lúcia Amaral, Portuguese Ombudsman

Juan González-Barba Pera, State Secretary for European Union of Spain

Cláudia Santos, University of Coimbra, Faculty of Law (VTC)

Nicos Alivizatos, Member of the Venice Commission (format tbc)

André Dias Pereira, University of Coimbra, Faculty of Law

Paula Veiga, University of Coimbra, Faculty of Law

10.45 | 12.00 Session 6

Rule of law, social progress and economic recovery

This panel will focus on the link between the protection of the rule of law, economic recovery and the development of social rights in Europe.

Moderator: Isabel Nery, Journalist

Hans Dahlgren, Minister for EU Affairs of Sweden

Lucia Ďuriš Nicholsonová, Chair EMPL Committee, European Parliament (VTC)

Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights (VTC)

Cristian Pîrvulescu, Chair of the fundamental rights and rule of law group of the European Economic and Social Committee

Joana Vicente, University of Coimbra, Faculty of Law

José Casalta Nabais, University of Coimbra, Faculty of Law

12.00 Closing Session

Michael Roth, Minister of State for Europe at the Federal Foreign Office, Germany

Gašper Dovžan, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia

Vera Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency (VTC)

Ana Paula Zacarias, Secretary of State for European Affairs of Portugal