On the occasion of the opening of its new campus in Rome, the European Law and Governance School (ELGS), operating under the auspices of the European Public Law Organization (EPLO), hosted an inaugural panel discussion titled “EU Values in a Fragmenting World: Enlargement, Identities and External Governance.”
The event brought together leading academics and practitioners to reflect on the evolving meaning and resilience of European Union values in a context shaped by geopolitical tensions, democratic challenges, and renewed debates on enlargement. It was attended by a diverse audience of students, early-career scholars, and experts from international organizations based in Rome, including UNICRI and IDLO. On behalf of the EPLO/ELGS, Mr. Dimitris Tsaknis welcomed the professors and the guests.
Key points:
Associate Professor Daniela Vitiello (University of Tuscia) opened the discussion by examining the concept of solidarity within the EU constitutional framework. She highlighted its multiple dimensions, presenting solidarity as a legal principle shaping relations among Member States, a mechanism for crisis management, and a broader normative force guiding European integration. Her remarks addressed the tension between self-centred and transnational models of solidarity, as well as the importance of responsibility-sharing in responding to contemporary challenges such as migration and external pressures.
Associate Professor Simone Benvenuti (Roma Tre University) explored whether the European Union can effectively act as a global driver for democratization. He underscored the gap between the EU’s normative ambitions and the realities on the ground, noting that democratic development is strongly influenced by domestic political conditions and geopolitical constraints. While the EU continues to promote democracy through partnerships and cooperation frameworks, it is increasingly adopting a more pragmatic and context-sensitive approach, seeking to avoid normative overstretch in a fragmented international and domestic environment.
Dr. Anna Khvorostiankina (Eurasia International University), who also moderated the panel, provided an external perspective by focusing on Armenia’s relationship with the EU. She discussed the 2025 law initiating the country’s EU accession process, emphasizing its significance as a civil society-driven initiative reflecting public aspirations toward European integration. However, she noted that while legislative alignment with EU values is often achieved, implementation frequently remains superficial. Drawing on Armenia’s constitutional and political developments, she stressed that meaningful transformation requires deeper changes in legal culture, institutional practice, and societal engagement. In this regard, the EU’s most effective role lies in supporting civil society, education, and participatory governance.
The panel concluded with Dr. Ilaria Bottigliero, Director of Research and Learning at the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), who offered a practitioner-oriented perspective on rule of law reform. She emphasized that sustainable legal and institutional transformation depends on combining top-down reforms with bottom-up empowerment, placing individuals at the center of justice systems. Drawing on concrete examples from Ukraine, Moldova, the Western Balkans, Kenya, and Mongolia, she illustrated how IDLO supports context-specific reforms to strengthen institutional capacity, address inequalities, and enhance access to justice.
Overall, the discussion underscored that EU values should be understood not as static principles, but as dynamic and contested elements shaped by both internal developments and external engagement. The debate was further enriched by a series of insightful questions from the audience. In this evolving context, academic and policy-oriented platforms play a crucial role in fostering dialogue, advancing research, and contributing to a deeper understanding of governance in an increasingly fragmented world.
