The European Group of Public Law (EGPL) convened its 37th Annual Reunion on 11-12 September 2026, bringing together distinguished academics, judges, public officials and legal practitioners from across Europe and beyond for two days of high-level discussions on the future of democratic governance, the rule of law and international cooperation.
This year's Reunion held particular significance as it commemorated thirty-five years since the first EGPL Reunion in Spetses in 1991, reaffirming the enduring role of the EGPL as a unique forum for scholarly dialogue and institutional cooperation in the field of public law.
Opening the proceedings, H.E. Prof. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, former President of the Portuguese Republic, delivered introductory remarks and was welcomed by H.E. Prof. Prokopios Pavlopoulos, former President of the Hellenic Republic. Their longstanding commitment to the ideals of European cooperation and democratic governance set the tone for the discussions that followed.
Under the overarching theme"New Challenges for the State," participants examined some of the most pressing issues confronting contemporary democracies. Discussions addressed democratic backsliding, declining public trust in institutions, constitutional resilience, judicial governance and electoral participation, while also exploring the growing impact of migration, security concerns, technological power and shifting global alliances.
The program featured contributions from leading figures of European and international public law, including judges of the European Court of Human Rights, current and former members of the Court of Justice of the European Union, constitutional court judges, renowned scholars and senior representatives of international institutions.
Particular attention was devoted to the changing international landscape and the emergence of a new world order. Speakers explored the future of the United Nations, the evolution of European cooperation, global public health challenges, climate governance and the increasing importance of collective action in addressing transnational issues. The implications of artificial intelligence for democratic institutions and public governance also featured prominently in the discussions.
A selection of the contributions presented during the Reunion will be published in the coming days, enabling a wider audience to engage with the ideas and debates that characterized this year's discussions.
The Reunion concluded with the meeting of the European Group of Public Law acting as the European Scientific Council of the EPLO, reviews of the Organization's activities, and the presentation of the Thesis Prize 2025, which continues to encourage and recognize outstanding young scholars in the field of public law.
Thirty-five years after its inaugural gathering, the Annual Reunion remains one of the most important intellectual forums dedicated to public law, providing a space where academic excellence, judicial experience and public leadership converge to address the legal and institutional challenges of an increasingly complex world.
