18 October 2024
Report on the International Scientific Conference
„Equality in an Ever – Integrating Europe: The View of Young Researchers”
On October 18, 2024, the International Scientific Conference titled „Equality in an Ever – Integrating Europe: The View of Young Researchers” took place. The event was conducted online via the Zoom platform. The conference was a dissemination event led by Dr. Bartłomiej Oręziak, organized as part of the research group „Equality in an Ever-Integrating Europe” coordinated by Prof. Marcin Wielec within the framework of the Central European Professors’ Network, managed by the Central European Academy. The conference aimed to bring together researchers from various countries who, through interdisciplinary discussion, explored key aspects of equality in legal, social, and cultural contexts within the European Union and, more broadly, in international legal relations. The event was held under the patronage of a distinguished scientific committee, ensuring a high level of academic and organizational quality. Throughout the sessions, numerous perspectives were presented, ranging from issues of state sovereignty and gender equality to the challenges posed by climate change and crime, offering a broad and comprehensive analysis of the topic.
The conference began at 10:00 AM with a formal welcome to the participants by Dr. Bartłomiej Oręziak from Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, who officially opened the event, emphasizing the importance of discussions on equality in a changing Europe. Following this, Prof. Marcin Wielec, also from Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, delivered a welcome speech in which he outlined the goals of the conference and highlighted the role of young researchers in shaping the future of Europe.
As part of the expert panel, distinguished specialists presented a variety of topics concerning equality in both international and European contexts. Prof. Katarina Smigova (Pan-European University, Bratislava), in her presentation titled „Sovereignty as the Basis for Equality in International Law” emphasized the crucial role of sovereignty in shaping international relations, particularly in the context of equality among states. She discussed how, in international legal practice, sovereignty is not an absolute concept but serves as the foundation upon which international cooperation is built. Prof. Erika Váradi-Csemáné (University of Miskolc) delivered a presentation titled „Climate Change and Crime – An Interdisciplinary Perspective”. She highlighted the complex relationship between environmental degradation and the rise in crime, discussing how climate change can increase social tensions and migration, leading to higher crime rates, especially in poorer regions of Europe. Prof. Cristian Mihes (University of Oradea) presented an analysis titled „The Protection of Children in Romania under Penal Law in Case of Sexual Offences”. His lecture focused on the regulations concerning the protection of child victims of sexual crimes, emphasizing the importance of stringent legal standards and the challenges associated with their enforcement in Romania. Prof. Sanja Savčić (University of Novi Sad), in her presentation „AI in Patent System – Need for Reframing” discussed the challenges arising from the development of AI technology in the context of patent systems. Savčić pointed to the need for a shift in the approach to protecting inventions increasingly created by AI, as well as the potential consequences for innovation and the economy. Prof. Wojciech Lis (John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin), in his paper „Gender Equality and the Concept of Parity as a Form of Discrimination” tackled the controversial topic of gender quotas, arguing that such measures can lead to paradoxical situations where the pursuit of equality transforms into a new form of discrimination. Prof. Dalibor Dukić (University of Belgrade) discussed „Freedom of Religion or Belief and European Integration of the Western Balkans” analyzing how European integration influences the shaping of human rights, particularly religious freedom, in the Western Balkan countries aspiring to EU membership. Prof. György Marinkás (University of Miskolc), in his paper „Selected Issues Related to Adoption in the ECtHR’s Case-Law” presented an analysis of European Court of Human Rights rulings on adoption, discussing how the Court defines the best interests of the child in such cases and the legal challenges associated with the topic. Prof. Benjamin Flander (University of Maribor) presented „On the Principle of Equality Among Member States in EU Law: A constitutional Lawyer’s View” where he examined how the principle of equality among EU Member States is implemented in legal practice and the challenges smaller Member States face in this regard. Prof. Aleš Rozehnal (Charles University, Prague), in his presentation „Equal Payment – Myth or Reality?” addressed wage discrimination, discussing examples from various European countries and analyzing to what extent equal pay principles are being realized in practice. The presentation by Dr. Grzegorz Ocieczek (Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw) titled „Selected Aspects of National Law Regarding Illegal Emigration” analyzed national regulations addressing the phenomenon of illegal emigration. The speaker presented key legal measures aimed at preventing illegal departures from the country and discussed their implications for border protection and the fight against organized crime related to human trafficking.
After the break, thematic panels featuring young researchers from various European universities began. The presentations were divided into four panels covering a wide range of topics related to equality, human rights, migration, and crime. The first conference panel opened with a presentation by Dr. Rebecca Hassanová from the Pan-European University in Bratislava, who addressed the highly important issue of the prohibition of torture in international law, particularly emphasizing its status as a ius cogens norm, meaning a peremptory norm of international law. Her lecture sparked interest among the audience, especially due to the significance of this prohibition for international human rights protection standards. Next, Tomasz Bojanowski from Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw took the floor, focusing on the need to unify criminal procedural law at the European level. His analysis addressed the challenges posed by the diversity of legal systems in EU Member States and the necessity for harmonizing regulations to ensure coherence and efficiency in the justice system. Dr. Árpád Lapu from the Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Budapest presented on the institutional balance between the organs of the European Union, particularly in the context of the principle of equality. His reflections touched on the dynamic relationship between EU institutions and the role of this balance in the effective functioning of the Union. Lovro Ušeničnik, representing New University in Ljubljana, examined the issue of constitutional identity and the equality of EU Member States. His presentation sparked a lively discussion on the constitutional differences between Member States and the challenges of integrating them within the common European framework. Teodora Elena Huiu from Titu Maiorescu University in Bucharest, who focused on marginalization and mental health issues in Europe. Her presentation drew attention to the neglected aspects of mental health and the need for greater attention from European institutions in this area. The final presentation in the panel was delivered by Jovan Živanović from University of Miskolc and Central European Academy, who focused on „Ensuring the Principle of Equality by Optimizing Connecting Factors: Case of the EU Succession Regulation”. Živanović explored how the EU Succession Regulation aims to promote equality by refining legal connecting factors that determine jurisdiction and applicable law in cross-border inheritance cases. He discussed the practical challenges in implementing these rules and proposed solutions to optimize these factors, enhancing legal certainty and ensuring equality within the EU’s succession framework.
The second panel of the conference focused on a variety of issues related to human rights, equality, and legal systems in the context of the European Union. Julia Starybrat from the University of Miskolc opened the discussion by presenting the role of Directive 2012/29/EU in strengthening the rights of crime victims. In her presentation, she emphasized how crucial the provisions of this directive are in creating protective frameworks for victims, providing them with better access to information, support, and participation in criminal proceedings. Dóra Szikszai, also from the University of Miskolc, addressed the topic of end-of-life decisions in the context of cultural differences. Her lecture shed light on the difficulties of establishing uniform regulations on this matter in Europe, due to the diverse cultural and religious approaches to euthanasia and the right to die. Zsófia Nagy from the University of Miskolc dedicated her presentation to analyzing the proposal for a European Parenting Certificate. In her presentation, she discussed how this new instrument could facilitate the recognition of parental rights across Member States, which is becoming an increasingly pressing legal issue in the context of growing mobility among EU citizens. Asea Gašparić, representing the University of Miskolc and the Central European Academy, focused on the juvenile justice system, presenting examples from Croatia and Hungary. Her presentation addressed equality in the treatment of juveniles within these legal systems, highlighting the differences and similarities between them. Gašparić emphasized the need for further harmonization in light of EU standards on children’s rights and the provision of fair trials for minors. The next presentation was by Silvia Tripalo, also from the University of Miskolc and the Central European Academy, who provided an analysis of regulations on the confiscation of criminal assets at the EU, Croatian, and Hungarian levels. Tripalo stressed the importance of effective legal regulations in combating organized crime, particularly in the fight against money laundering and corruption. She highlighted the key role of international cooperation in this area. The final presentation of the panel was delivered by Milica Ilić, who focused on gender equality in the European Union. Ilić discussed how individual Member States implement gender equality laws, with an emphasis on the challenges of discrimination in the labor market and access to public services. Her presentation underscored the need for further action by EU countries to ensure full equality between men and women, both in professional and social life.
Dr. Marcin Niedbała from the Academy of Justice in Warsaw inaugurated the third panel of the conference with his presentation on the discrimination of Christians in the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the context of freedom of speech. He emphasized that, despite the Court’s efforts to ensure equal rights for all religious groups, certain controversies arise regarding restrictions on Christians’ freedom of expression. Dr. Niedbała presented examples of ECHR rulings that have been criticized for insufficiently protecting the rights of this group, sparking an engaging discussion on balancing freedom of speech with the protection of other societal values. Next, Doris Skaramuca, representing the University of Miskolc and the Central European Academy, discussed issues related to the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) in Europe. Her presentation focused on the challenges of ensuring equality in access to technology and its impact on society. Skaramuca emphasized that EU law should create frameworks that ensure equal access to the benefits of AI development, while also highlighting potential risks for marginalized groups. Ágota Szekeres from the University of Miskolc dedicated her presentation to the topic of access to water services in an integrating Europe. The speaker outlined the challenges of providing equal access to clean water, pointing out significant disparities in the level of these services across different Member States. Her presentation focused on the need to develop common legal solutions to address these inequalities and ensure sustainable development. Emma Szitás, also representing the University of Miskolc, discussed equality in digital contracts from the perspective of European e-commerce. Szitás focused on regulatory issues related to e-commerce, analyzing how the European Union strives to ensure fairness and equality in digital contracts. She stressed the need for further harmonization of regulations in this area to provide consumers with fair conditions and legal protection. Ádám Pál from the University of Miskolc addressed the issues related to balancing power in the context of the European Union’s tax competences and the sovereignty of Member States. In his presentation, he analyzed how EU tax policies affect the sovereignty of member countries and the challenges posed by attempts to harmonize tax systems at the EU level. Pál highlighted the delicate balance between maintaining sovereignty and the need for cooperation in the field of taxation. The final presentation of the panel was delivered by Ivan Jokanović from the University of Miskolc, who compared consumer remedies in Hungarian and Polish law. The speaker outlined the key differences and similarities in consumer protection regulations in both countries and discussed the available legal remedies in cases of consumer rights violations.
Zsófia Pécsi from the University of Miskolc opened the fourth panel of the conference, focusing on the relationship between the education system and juvenile delinquency. In her presentation, she demonstrated how educational policies can contribute to preventing youth crime. Pécsi emphasized the importance of educational and social programs that offer support in criminal prevention, highlighting that appropriate educational initiatives can significantly reduce juvenile crime rates. The next speaker was Prof. Andrea Jánosi, who discussed the main features of the Hungarian criminal records system. She focused on the mechanisms of crime registration and the challenges associated with international cooperation in this field. Jánosi pointed out the need to modernize criminal record systems in the context of EU harmonization, which would allow for better information exchange between Member States. Péter Zoltán Gál from the University of Miskolc delivered a lecture on green criminology, discussing white-collar crimes in the context of environmental protection. The speaker highlighted the growing challenges related to detecting and prosecuting environmental crimes,
especially in the context of global climate change and increasing ecological awareness. Gábor Révész concentrated on modern technologies and the role of artificial intelligence in crime prevention. In his presentation, he discussed the potential of AI in predicting and preventing crimes, while also pointing out the risks associated with the overuse of technology in social control. The last two presentations were by Bulcsú Balla and Tamás Csema. Balla analyzed the specific rules for interrogating juvenile offenders under the Romanian Criminal Procedure Code, drawing attention to the potential arbitrariness of the applied regulations. Csema, on the other hand, discussed mental disorders as risk factors in criminology, presenting research findings on the connection between mental health and crime, which led to reflections on the need for better psychological support in crime prevention.
The conference concluded with a summary by the Conference Secretary, Julia Starybrat, who expressed gratitude to all members of the scientific committee and participants. She highlighted the value of the multifaceted discussions and emphasized that young researchers represent the future of legal development in an integrating Europe.
The event was widely advertised, both before it began and after it concluded, thanks to announcements and summaries posted on the following websites:
Scientific Association for Comparative Law Poland
Announcement: https://tnkp.pl/aktualnosci/58
Summary: https://tnkp.pl/aktualnosci/63
Faculty of Law and Administration at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw Announcement: https://wpia.uksw.edu.pl/2024/10/16/miedzynarodowa-konferencja-naukowa-pt-rownosc-w-coraz-bardziej-zintegrowanej-europie-perspektywa-mlodych-naukowcow/ Summary:https://wpia.uksw.edu.pl/2024/10/21/sprawozdanie-z-konferencji-naukowej-equality-in-an-ever-integrating-europe-the-view-of-young-researchers/
Scientific Circle of Criminal Procedure at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw Announcement: https://www.facebook.com/events/562402999472823/?ref=newsfeed
Summary: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1113177267247278&set=gm.571815451864911&idorvanity=562402999472823
