Programme
Shaping the Future of Private International Law in Europe
– Putting Together the Pieces & Filling Gaps
Geneva, 18 - 20 June 2026
Uni Mail, salle MS150
Bd du Pont-d'Arve 40
1205 Genève
programme
Thursday, 18 June 2026
Morning – Opportunity for Meetings of EAPIL Working Groups
Afternoon
14h30
14h30
Registration & Coffee
15h30
15h30
Welcome addresses
Gilles Cuniberti, University of Luxemburg (President EAPIL)
Luc Thévenoz, University of Geneva (Dean of the Law Faculty)
16h00
16h00
Keynote Speaker
Michel Kähr, Head of the Private Law Directorate and responsible for Swiss legislation in the field of PIL, Swiss Federal Department of Justice
16h30
16h30
Coffee Break
17h00
17h00
Reports from Brussels, Luxemburg and The Hague
Karen Vandekerckhove, Head of Unit, European Commission, DG Justice and Consumers Civil Justice Policy
Marko Bošnjak, Judge, Court of Justice of the European Union
Christophe Bernasconi, Secretary General, Hague Conference on Private International Law
18h00
18h00
Discussion
Evening
18h30
18h30
Reception
Café du musée d’ethnographie (MEG), Boulevard Carl Vogt 65, 1205 Genève (approximately 10 minutes’ walk)
Friday, 19 June 2026
Morning
Putting Together the Pieces and Filling Gaps I
First Panel: Towards A European Private International Law Act – The Proposal of the EAPIL Working Group on an EuPIL Act
Chaired by Marion Ho-Dac, University of Artois
9h00
9h00
The Need for a EuPIL Act, its Structure, Content and Scope of Application
Thomas Kadner Graziano, University of Geneva
The General Part of a EuPIL Act - Integration of the Acquis and Filling Gaps : General Rules on Applicable Law
Dario Moura Vicente, University of Lisbon
Giesela Rühl, Humboldt University Berlin
10h00
10h00
Discussion
10h30
10h30
Coffee Break
Putting Together the Pieces and Filling Gaps II
Second Panel: Chaired by Jeremy Heymann, University of Lyon
10h45
10h45
The General Part of an EuPIL Act – Integration of the Acquis and Innovations: General Rules on Jurisdiction
Marjolaine Roccati, University Paris Nanterre
Gian Paolo Romano, University of Geneva
11h30
11h30
Specific Challenges – Family Law and Succession Law in the EuPIL Act
Caroline Rapatz, University of Kiel
Anna Wysocka-Bar, Jagiellonian University in Kraków
12h15
12h15
Discussion
12h45
12h45
Lunch
Afternoon
Filling Gaps III
Third Panel: Codifying International Property Law
Chaired by Johan Meeusen, University of Antwerp
14h00
14h00
Presentation of the Proposal of the EAPIL Working Group on International Property Law
Eva-Maria Kieninger, University of Würzburg,
Gilles Cuniberti, University of Luxemburg
14h40
14h40
Presentation of GEDIP’s Proposal for International Property Law
Francisco Garcimartín Alférez, Universidad Autónoma Madrid
15h00
15h00
Discussion
15h20
15h20
In particular: The Protection of Cultural Objects
Janeen Carruthers, University of Glasgow
Tamás Szabados, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest
15h50
15h50
Discussion
16h00
16h00
Coffee Break
General Assembly
16h15
16h15
Meeting of the General Assembly of EAPIL
Evening
19h00
19h00
Dinner
Café Papon, Rue Henri-Fazy 1, 1204 Genève (approximately 20 minutes’ walk)
Saturday, 20 June 2026
Issues for Reform: The Relationship with Third States
Fourth Panel: EU Private International Law and Third States
(Projects of EAPIL’s Young Researchers Network)
Chaired by: Vesna Lazic, University of Utrecht
9h00
9h00
Jurisdiction Over Non-EU Defendants
Ennio Piovesani, Pistoia
9h20
9h20
Recognition and Enforcement of Non-EU Judgments
Paul Eichmüller, University of Vienna
9h40
9h40
Is there a Need for a Forum necessitatis?
Tobias Lutzi, University of Augsburg
10h00
10h00
Discussion
10h20
10h20
Coffee Break
The Implications of European PIL Legislation for Third States
Fifth Panel, chaired by Daniel Girsberger, University of Luzern
10h45
10h45
Views from Switzerland, the USA, Africa, Australia, and South America (a roundtable)
Joëlle Schickel-Küng, Swiss Federal Departement of Justice
Symeon Symeonides, Williamette University, Oregon
Mary Keyes, Griffith University, Australia (President of the Australasian Association of Private International Law)
Veronica Ruiz Abou-Nigm, University of Edinburgh (President of the American Association of Private International Law)
11h45
11h45
Discussion
12h15
12h15