Conference on “The HCCH 2019 Judgments Convention: Cornerstones, Prospects, Outlook” – Rescheduled to 9 and 10 June 2023
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Due to a conflicting conference on the previously planned date (9 and 10 September 2022) and with a view to ongoing developments on the subject-matter in the EU, we have made the decision to reschedule our Conference to Friday and Saturday, 9 and 10 June 2023. This new date should bring us closer to the expected date of accession of the EU and will thus give the topic extra momentum. Stay tuned and register in time (registration remains open)!
On 23 June 2022, the European Parliament by adopting JURI Committee Report A9-0177/2022 gave its consent to the accession of the European Union to the HCCH 2019 Judgments Convention. The Explanatory Statement describes the convention with a view to the “growth in international trade and investment flows” as an “instrument […] of outmost importance for European citizenz ans businesses” and expressed the hope that the EU’s signature will set “an example for other countries to join”. However, the Rapporteur, Ms. Sabrina Pignedoli, also expresses the view that the European Parliament should maintain a strong role when considering objections under the bilateralisation mechanism provided for in Art. 29 of the Convention. Additionally, some concerns were raised regarding the protection of employees and consumers under the instrument. For those interested in the (remarkably fast) adoption process, the European Parliament’s vote can be rewatched here. Given these important steps towards accession, June 2023 should be a perfect time to delve deeper into the subject-matter, and the Conference is certainly a perfect opportunity for doing so:
The list of speakers of our conference includes internationally leading scholars, practitioners and experts from the most excellent Universities, the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), and the European Commission (DG Trade, DG Justice). The Conference is co-hosted by the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH.
The Organizers kindly ask participants to contribute with EUR 200.- to the costs of the event and with EUR 50.- to the conference dinner, should they wish to participate. There is a limited capacity for young scholars to contribute with EUR 100.- to the conference (the costs for the dinner remain unchanged).
Please register with sekretariat.weller@jura.uni-bonn.de. Clearly indicate whether you want to benefit from the young scholars’ reduction of the conference fees and whether you want to participate in the conference dinner. You will receive an invoice for the respective conference fee and, if applicable, for the conference dinner. Please make sure that we receive your payment at least two weeks in advance. After receiving your payment we will send out a confirmation of your registration. This confirmation will allow you to access the conference hall and the conference dinner.
Please note: Access will only be granted if you are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Please confirm in your registration that you are, and attach an e-copy of your vaccination document. Please follow further instructions on site, e.g. prepare for producing a current negative test, if required by University or State regulation at that moment. We will keep you updated. Thank you for your cooperation.
Dates and Times:
Friday, 9 June 2023, and Saturday, 10 September 2023, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Venue:
Universitätsclub Bonn, Konviktstraße 9, D – 53113 Bonn
Registration:
sekretariat.weller@jura.uni-bonn.de
Registration fee: EUR 200.-
Programme
Friday, 9 June 2023
8.30 a.m. Registration
9.00 a.m. Welcome notes
Prof Dr Wulf-Henning Roth, Director of the Zentrum für Europäisches Wirtschaftsrecht, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Germany
Dr Christophe Bernasconi, Secretary General of the HCCH
Part I: Cornerstones
1. Scope of application
Prof Dr Xandra Kramer, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands
2. Judgments, Recognition, Enforcement
Prof Dr Wolfgang Hau, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Germany
3. Indirect jurisdiction
Prof Dr Pietro Franzina, Catholic University of Milan, Italy
4. Grounds for refusal
Dr Marcos Dotta Salgueiro, Adj. Professor of Private International Law, Law Faculty, UR, Uruguay; Director of International Law Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Uruguay
5. Trust management: Establishment of relations between Contracting States
Dr João Ribeiro-Bidaoui, First Secretary, HCCH / Dr Cristina Mariottini, Senior Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for International, European and Regulatory Law Luxemburg
1.00 p.m. Lunch Break
Part II: Prospects for the World
1. The HCCH System for choice of court agreements: Relationship of the HCCH Judgments Convention 2019 to the HCCH 2005 Convention on Choice of Court Agreements
Prof Dr Paul Beaumont, University of Stirling, United Kingdom
2. European Union
Dr Andreas Stein, Head of Unit, DG JUST – A1 “Civil Justice”, European Commission
3. Canada, USA
Prof Linda J. Silberman, Clarence D. Ashley Professor of Law, Co-Director, Center for Transnational Litigation, Arbitration, and Commercial Law, New York University School of Law, USA
Prof Geneviève Saumier, Peter M. Laing Q.C. Professor of Law, McGill Faculty of Law, Canada
4. Southeast European Neighbouring and EU Candidate Countries
Ass. Prof. Dr.sc Ilija Rumenov, Assistant Professor at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Macedonia
8.00 p.m. Conference Dinner (EUR 50.-)
Saturday, 10 June 2023
9.00 a.m. Part II continued: Prospects for the World
5. Middle East and North Africa (including Gulf Cooperation Council)
Prof Dr Béligh Elbalti, Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Law and Politics at Osaka University, Japan
6. Sub-Saharan Africa (including Commonwealth of Nations)
Prof Dr Abubakri Yekini, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
Prof Dr Chukwuma Okoli, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
7. Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR)
Prof Dr Verónica Ruiz Abou-Nigm, Director of Internationalisation, Senior Lecturer in International Private Law, School of Law, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
8. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Prof Dr Adeline Chong, Associate Professor of Law, Yong Pung How School of Law, Singapore Management University, Singapore
9. China (including Belt and Road Initiative)
Prof Dr Zheng (Sophia) Tang, University of Newcastle, United Kingdom
1.00 p.m. Lunch Break
Part III: Outlook
1. Lessons from the Genesis of the Judgments Project
Dr Ning Zhao, Senior Legal Officer, HCCH
2. International Commercial Arbitration and Judicial Cooperation in civil matters: Towards an Integrated Approach
José Angelo Estrella-Faria, Principal Legal Officer and Head, Legislative Branch, International Trade Law Division, Office of Legal Affairs, United Nations; Former Secretary General of UNIDROIT
3. General Synthesis and Future Perspectives
Hans van Loon, Former Secretary General of the HCCH