The Academy of European Law (ERA) held the 35th meeting of its Board of Trustees in Trier, Germany, on 12 and 13 June 2026. The meeting brought together representatives of governments, judicial institutions, legal professions, universities and other stakeholders from across Europe to discuss the strategic development of the Academy and the future of judicial training in Europe.
The International Union of Judicial Officers (UIHJ) was represented by its President, Marc Schmitz, who participated in the meeting in his capacity as a member of ERA’s Board of Trustees.
A significant moment of the meeting was the official accession of the Republic of Moldova to the ERA Foundation. The accession agreement was signed by Vladislav Cojuhari, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Moldova, together with Marc van der Woude, Chairman of ERA’s Board of Trustees, and Jean-Philippe Rageade, Director of ERA. Moldova’s accession reflects the country’s commitment to strengthening the rule of law and enhancing the professional training of judges, lawyers, prosecutors, public officials and academics as part of its broader process of integration into the European legal and judicial community.
The first day of the meeting was devoted to reviewing ERA’s activities and achievements during the 2025–2026 period. The Management Board presented a comprehensive report covering institutional developments, funding, participant statistics, programme evolution, organisational matters, digitalisation projects, environmental initiatives and communication activities. Trustees exchanged views on the Academy’s strategic priorities and its continued role as one of Europe’s leading providers of continuing legal education.
Particular attention was paid to the European Commission’s Judicial Training Strategy 2025–2030. Discussions highlighted the importance of ensuring that legal practitioners throughout Europe have access to high-quality training enabling them to address the rapidly evolving legal landscape, including developments arising from digital transformation, artificial intelligence and cross-border judicial cooperation.
The meeting also featured several thematic working groups dedicated to the future development of ERA. Participants examined innovative approaches to legal education, including the use of gamification techniques in training programmes, the enhancement of ERA’s conference facilities, and the preparation of the Academy’s Development Strategy 2028+. Discussions were also held on the programme of the 2026 Conference of the European Forum of the Legal Professions.
On the second day, trustees participated in specialised working groups covering a broad range of legal fields, including criminal justice, constitutional and institutional law, human rights, asylum and immigration law, labour law, taxation, competition law, intellectual property, environmental law and judicial cooperation in civil matters. These exchanges enabled participants to assess recent developments, identify emerging training needs and contribute to the preparation of ERA’s future educational programmes.
Several strategic topics were also addressed, including the strengthening of ERA’s global outreach, the growing impact of artificial intelligence on legal education and professional practice, and preparations for ERA’s Jubilee Congress, which will take place in 2027. Participants recognised the increasing importance of international cooperation and interdisciplinary approaches in ensuring that legal professionals remain equipped to respond effectively to contemporary challenges.
The meeting concluded with a presentation of the programme for the 2026 Conference of the European Forum of the Legal Professions and an update on preparations for the 2027 Jubilee Congress. In his closing remarks, Chairman Marc van der Woude emphasised the importance of maintaining ERA’s position as a leading centre of excellence for judicial training and legal education in Europe.
The UIHJ welcomes ERA’s continued commitment to promoting judicial training, the rule of law and European legal cooperation. As an organisation dedicated to strengthening the effectiveness of justice systems and the enforcement of judicial decisions worldwide, the UIHJ attaches particular importance to initiatives that foster professional excellence, international dialogue and the sharing of best practices among legal professionals.
The participation of the UIHJ in the Board of Trustees reflects the longstanding and fruitful cooperation between the two institutions and their shared objective of contributing to a modern, efficient and accessible justice system throughout Europe and beyond.
