The Annual Conference on EU Border Management examined the latest legislative files and priorities aimed at strengthening border management systems and their interoperability. This included discussions on matters arising from the EU Pact on Asylum and Migration, as well as the new EU proposal for a regulation establishing a common system for returns and its implications for Schengen governance. A critical analysis was presented regarding the state of Schengen in its 40th year, reflecting on lessons learned from a decade of crises in efforts to safeguard the Schengen area, fundamental values, and European security. The conference also looked at how the EU’s databases for managing borders have changed over time and discussed Frontex’s work, including the latest trends and routes for migration, risk assessments, operational updates, and the protection of basic rights. Recent advancements in countering migrant smuggling were also discussed. The event brought together border guards from Member States, law enforcement officials, academics, representatives from NGOs, and EU officials. Attendees who joined in person were treated to dinner in Schengen and a tour of the European Museum Schengen, along with historical sites associated with the signing of the Schengen Agreement.

ERA organised the event at the request of the Albanian School of Magistrates, hosting 30 participants, consisting of Albanian judges, public prosecutors, and law enforcement officers. The event provided attendees with pertinent facts and figures regarding corruption and its connection to the broader issue of organised crime. An analysis was presented on the current and future legal and regulatory frameworks designed to combat corruption within the EU and Albania, alongside an explanation of the law enforcement and judicial challenges faced in addressing this crime. Additionally, case studies and promising practices for countering corruption were shared. ERA enlisted various judicial and law enforcement experts from Member States as speakers, along with specialists from relevant EU agencies, bodies, and the European Commission. The Albanian School of Magistrates appointed a judge from the Albanian Supreme Court, who is also a member of the High Judicial Council, to speak at the event.

This annual flagship event brought together leading experts from data protection, law enforcement, technology, and fundamental rights to tackle the growing challenges at the intersection of security and privacy. The theme for 2025, ‘Red Light, Green Light – Reduce Complexity, Increase Speed, Defend EU Values’, highlighted Europol’s strategic focus on improving efficiency, clarifying regulations, and safeguarding fundamental rights. The title drew inspiration from terminology commonly used in the fields of data protection and cybersecurity, while also emphasising the significant consequences that data-related decisions can entail, especially in fast-paced, high-pressure situations.

The study visit of judges and prosecutors from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania marked the conclusion of the project focused on advanced training in EU law. This project took place in 2024 and 2025 and included three national seminars, each lasting 2.5 days, in Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius. There was also a week-long study visit to Trier and Luxembourg. During the study visit, various working sessions were conducted covering topics such as the rule of law, the preliminary ruling procedure before the Court of Justice of the EU, and the application of EU law within national contexts. The main goal was to improve the consistent and effective use of EU law by judges of all types. Additionally, a session was dedicated to designing effective judicial training for trainers within national judiciaries. To further encourage judges and prosecutors from the Baltic states to establish national networks of experts in European law, participants had the opportunity to learn about the organisation of networks of court coordinators in several Member States. At the end of the programme, participants were invited to reflect on and design a network within their respective professional groups. The judges visited the Court of Justice of the European Union, where they participated in a hearing and engaged in discussions with judges from both the Court of Justice and the General Court. Meanwhile, the group of prosecutors visited the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and also met with representatives from the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office of Luxembourg and the District Court of Luxembourg.

This seminar was held in Copenhagen, supported by the Association of Danish Employment Lawyers, and brought together 79 legal professionals and experts to discuss the legal and practical challenges related to cross-border labour mobility and the posting of workers within the European Union. The programme addressed key issues, including multi-state activities and pertinent case law; the European Commission’s proposal for an EU-wide e-declaration portal for posted workers; the posting of temporary agency workers; the posting of third-country nationals; and the ongoing discussions surrounding subcontracting chains.

Following the successful Annual Conference on European Family Law 2024 in Barcelona, the 2025 edition took place in Budapest in cooperation with the National Office for the Judiciary of Hungary. By hosting our regular conferences in different venues across Europe, we aim to bring our training activities closer to participants and their professional communities. The Annual Conference held in Budapest exemplified this approach, enabling judges from Hungary to attend more easily and engage directly with colleagues and experts from all over Europe. In terms of content, the conference focused on cross-border maintenance law and recent family law case law of the CJEU and the ECtHR, covering various areas of European family law.

The EUFLP is a platform for structured dialogue among legal professions in Europe, encouraging collaboration on shared challenges and the development of practical solutions. Hosted by ERA, it gathers the main legal and judicial stakeholders at EU level: the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary (ENCJ), the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), the European Association of Judges (EAJ), the Association of European Administrative Judges (AEAJ), ACA-Europe, the Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the EU, the European Union of Judicial Officers (UEHJ) and the European Union of Rechtspfleger (EUR). The fourth annual conference of the EUFLP was hosted by the Belgian Council of State and held on 14 November, with more than 450 participants joining online or in Brussels. This year’s topic, ‘The Need for Constant Vigilance: The Role of the Legal Professions in Maintaining Democratic Values’ examined various viewpoints of the representatives of the legal professions. The welcoming words by ERA’s Director, First President of the Belgian Council of State, Wilfried Van Vaerenbergh, and the keynote speech by Ana Gallego Torres, Director General for the European Commission, Directorate-General Justice and Consumers, were livestreamed through ERA’s LinkedIn account.

The Annual Conference on European Criminal Law took place in Valletta, in collaboration with the Judicial Studies Committee (JSC) of Malta, on 20-21 November 2025. The event served as a platform for legal practitioners to exchange experiences regarding current developments and future initiatives in the field of EU criminal justice. This year’s conference highlighted the impact of artificial intelligence on the criminal justice system. Additionally, it addressed the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), defence rights, new EU legislation on e-evidence, the (ab)use of bitcoins (a form of digital currency), and crimes in the digital age. High-ranking representatives from EU institutions, along with academics and national experts, engaged in discussions on key priorities within the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice for the coming years. With a record-breaking 95 participants registered, this event marked a significant achievement.

On 10 November, ERA’s Governing Board convened at the foundation’s headquarters in Trier under the leadership of President Jean-Claude Juncker.

Among the guests present were Marc van der Woude, Chair of the ERA Board of Trustees and President of the General Court of the EU, Sabine Verheyen, Chair of ERA’s Political Advisory Board and First Vice-President of the European Parliament, and Milan Hodás, State Secretary of the Slovak Ministry of Justice. Joining online were Dariusz Mazur, Undersecretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Justice, and Nenad Vujić, Serbian Minister of Justice.

The agenda included the approval of the 2024 accounts and the adoption of the 2026 budget. A central focus was the 2026 Action Plan, which translates ERA’s 2021–2027 Development Strategy into concrete measures. The plan aims to improve outreach and visibility, particularly among younger legal professionals, strengthen ERA’s financial stability, promote sustainability, and accelerate digitalisation across its activities.