The XXXI International Federation of European Law (Fédération Internationale pour le Droit Européen, FIDE) Congress took place in Katowice from 28–31 May 2025 and was organised by the Polish Association of European Law (Polskie Stowarzyszenie Prawa Europejskiego, PSPE). The latter is currently presiding FIDE, and is led by Maciej Szpunar (First Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union, ELI Individual Observer).
The Congress focused on three topics:
- EU Emergency Law
- EU Digital Economy: General Framework (DSA/DMA) and Specialised Regimes
- Energy Solidarity and Energy Security – From Green Transition to the EU’s Crisis Management
all of which ELI contributed to through its projects and other activities.
Among others, ELI provided crucial guidance during the COVID-19 crisis through its Principles for the Covid-19 Crisis. Furthermore, the ELI Charter of Fundamental Constitutional Principles of a European Democracy addresses the operation of state powers during emergencies and the ELI-Mount Scopus European Standards of Judicial Independence instils a rule of law culture, so vital in times of crises.
ELI’s leadership on the digital economy is reflected in its pioneering ALI-ELI Principles for a Data Economy: Data Transactions and Data Rights. It has also made substantial contributions to several European Commission public consultations, including those on the Data Act, on Civil Liability: Adapting Liability Rules to the Digital Age and Artificial Intelligence, and on Digital Fairness – Fitness Check on EU Consumer Law.
ELI is therefore pleased that its Scientific Director, Christiane Wendehorst, co-moderated, a session on the EU Digital Economy with Krystyna Kowalik-Bańczyk (Judge, General Court of the European Union).
We are also pleased to report that several ELI Members, including Takis Tridimas (Director of the Luxembourg Centre for European Law, Co-Reporter of ELI Charter of Fundamental Constitutional Principles of a European Democracy), Sacha Prechal (Professor of European Law at Utrecht University and former Judge at the Court of Justice of the European Union), Marek Safjan (former judge at the Court of Justice of the European Union), Silvana Sciarra (Emeritus President of the Italian Constitutional Court), Koen Lenaerts (President of the Court of Justice of the European Union), were among the keynote speakers at the Congress, along with Claire Bazy Malaurie (President of the Venice Commission), Adam Bodnar (Polish Minister of Justice), Stephan Harbarth (President of the German Federal Constitutional Court), Michael McGrath (EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection), Eleanor Sharpston (former Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union), Adam Szłapka (Polish Minister for the European Union), Joseph HH Weiler (University Professor at the NYU Law School) and Marc van der Woude (President of the General Court of the European Union).
The programme of the Congress is available here.
The next Congress will take place in Helsinki in 2027.
