On 3 June 2022, the 5th Young European Law Scholars Conference (YELS Conference) took place at the University of Innsbruck. This year's conference was jointly organised by the University of Innsbruck and the Centre of European Law at King's College London.
The Conference brings together young scholars from across Europe who are working in the field of European Union law, with the core aim of allowing early career academics to meet fellow scholars, to present their research and to share their ideas.
As in previous years, established scholars in the field chaired thematic panels throughout the day and offered their expert feedback to those young scholars who presented their research. The theme of this year's conference was "Reforming the EU Treaties". Thematic panels throughout the day included: Differentiation and Deeper Integration; Sustainable Development; EU Values, Judicial Protection and the Rule of Law; and External Relations.
Dr Darren Harvey, Lecturer in Law at The Dickson Poon School of Law and a member of the Centre of European Law advisory board, was responsible for organising the conference alongside colleagues from the University of Innsbruck. Dr Harvey was joined in Innsbruck by colleagues from the School including Professor Paul Cardwell, Vice-Dean Education, and Dr. Oana Stefan, Reader in Law. Professor Cardwell and Dr Stefan both chaired panels and provided expert commentary and feedback to young European scholars. In addition, Mark Konstantinidis and Mariasole Forlani, PhD Candidates at the School, presented their research at the conference.
The Centre of European Law would like to extend a special thank you to the University of Innsbruck for their exceptionally warm hospitality throughout this year's YELS conference. The Centre is particularly grateful to the staff at the University of Innsbruck - Dr. Clara Rauchegger, Madlen Karg, Janine Prantl and Bernadette Zelger- for all their efforts in putting together such a memorable conference.
A full report from the event can be found on the University of Innsbruck website.
The next YELS Conference is expected to take place at Maastricht University in June 2023.
