Pascal Pichonnaz (Chair; ELI President; Professor, University of Fribourg) welcomed the speakers and the audience, before introducing the first panellist, Christiana Fountoulakis (ELI Council Member; Professor, University of Fribourg and one of the lead drafters of ELI’s Response to the European Commission's Public Consultation on the Initiative on the Cross-Border Protection of Vulnerable Adults).

Fountoulakis summarised the above Response, focusing specifically on need for action identified in the 2020 ELI Report on the Protection of Adults in International Situations.

Gerald Mäsch (ELI Member; Professor, University of Münster, and joint lead drafter of ELI’s Response) focused on additional recommendations made by the ELI in its 2022 Response. He summarised four main recommendations.

Patrizia De Luca (Senior Expert, Unit A1 Civil Justice, Directorate-General Justice and Consumers, European Commission) updated those present on the past, current and preparatory work carried out by the Commission, which is likely to propose a legislative initiative next year.

Philippe Lortie (First Secretary, Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH)) gave an overview of the most recent developments at the HCCH as well as insight into the legislative drafting and scope of the HCCH’s Convention in the field. He praised ELI for promoting this topic. He also welcomed the various recommendations made by ELI in its Response.

This was followed by a lively Q&A session.

The recording of the webinar is available below.