The opening session brought together ELI President, Teresa Rodríguez de las Heras Ballell, Stéphane Braconnier, President of University Paris-Panthéon-Assas, François Molinié, President of the French Society of Comparative Law, and Sebastian Schütze, Rector of the University of Vienna, who addressed participants by video message.

The Welcome Address marked the beginning of the principal Conference programme in Paris and brought together institutions closely associated with ELI and the organisation of the 2026 Annual Conference. ELI President Rodríguez de las Heras Ballell welcomed participants before Professors Braconnier and Molinié offered remarks on behalf of the Conference’s French partners. Rector Schütze subsequently addressed participants on behalf of the University of Vienna, which hosts the ELI Secretariat.

The ceremony concluded with a performance of the European Anthem by the Insomnio Choir, setting the stage for three days of discussion centred on Europe and the Rule of Law: Cultural Engagement and Legal Resilience.