299Introductory Welcome at the Conference

Prof. Paris Arvanitakis, Law School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Dear Colleagues and Guests,

In my capacity as Professor at the Law Faculty of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki –the host Institution of today’s workshop– and as Editor-in-chief of the Lex&Forum Law Review, which is co-organizing this event with the European Convention on Human Rights Law Review, I am delighted to welcome all esteemed speakers and participants to our University, whether attending in person or online.

In its five-year publishing history, Lex&Forum has organized eighteen Conferences, including today’s event. This, however, is the first to be held in a hybrid format. We are truly honored to welcome to Thessaloniki nearly all of today’s contributors –reputable scholars from both Greece and abroad– whose presence greatly enhances the quality and significance of this event.

The successful realization of such a complex endeavor would not have been possible without the joint efforts of our two law reviews and, in particular, the dedicated commitment of Professor Vassilis Tzevelekos of the University of Liverpool, member and former Vice-chair of the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee, and Co-editor-in-chief of the European Convention on Human Rights Law Review, as well as the generous support of the Law Faculties of both our Universities.

This collaborative initiative has brought to our city distinguished legal experts from the Council of Europe –individuals who were directly involved in the negotiations concerning the European Union’s accession to the European Convention on Human Rights– as well as eminent Professors from leading European Universities, recognized as foremost authorities in the field under discussion today. The presence of these distinguished colleagues, alongside eminent faculty members from our own Law School, constitutes a significant honor for our academic community and underscores the importance of the issues we are addressing.

The question of the European Union’s accession to the European Convention on Human Rights is neither new nor unfamiliar to those working in the fields of European Law and Human Rights. Article 6(2) of the Treaty on European Union explicitly mandates the Union’s accession to the Convention, albeit subject to the conditions set out in Protocol No. 8 of the Treaty, which requires that the unique characteristics of the Union and its legal order be safeguarded. The accession process faced a major setback with the issuance of Opinion 2/13 by the Court of Justice of the European Union, delivered during the presidency of Professor Vassilios Skouris –former Dean of our Law Faculty and long-serving President of the Court of Justice of the European 300Union (CJEU). In Opinion 2/13, the Court found the draft accession agreement incompatible with EU law, raising concerns relating, inter alia, to the autonomy of EU legal order.

Since then, however, significant developments have taken place. A new round of negotiations was concluded in 2023, resulting in the revised Draft Accession Agreement that brings the prospect of accession closer than ever. From its part, the Court of Justice of the European Union, in its KS and KD decision of September 2024, extended its jurisdiction to cover aspects of the Common Foreign and Security Policy –an area that was excluded from the 2023 Draft Accession Agreement, with the intention of being addressed internally within the EU order.

These developments have already been the subject of scholarly discussion. With this in mind, we chose not to confine today’s Conference to the long-standing debate over whether accession is feasible and under what conditions. Instead, in line with the specific focus of the Lex&Forum Law Review, we have shifted our attention beyond this question, towards the procedural issues that will arise post-accession –particularly concerning the participation of the European Union and its Member States before the European Court of Human Rights during proceedings, but also after a judgment has been delivered. In this respect, we trust that today’s event represents a novel initiative to identify and examine these procedural challenges and opportunities, which will be thoroughly addressed by our prominent speakers.

From this position, I would like to begin by warmly thanking my colleague Vassilis Tzevelekos, whose inspiration led to the organization of this hybrid event. He has guided us through the key human rights issues surrounding accession, and facilitated contact with the celebrated colleagues who honor us with their presence today. I would also wish to extend special thanks to Professor Vassilis Pergantis of our Law Faculty, who, in addition to contributing as a speaker, has played a key role as co-organizer, successfully overseeing the technical regulation of today’s event.

We are also deeply grateful to the Law Faculty of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the University of Liverpool School of Law, as well as to the Research Committee of the Aristotle University. Thanks to the financial support of these Institutions, our speakers have been able to attend in person. Our sincere thanks also go to Sakkoulas Publications for their unwavering technical and editorial support in all our initiatives.

And, of course, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all of today’s speakers and discussants for sharing their academic expertise and valuable insights, and for being here with us. In order of their presentations: Mr. Christos Giakoumopoulos, who until very recently was Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law at the Council of Europe; Professor Christine Bicknell from the University of Exeter; Ms. Zoë Bryanston-Cross, Deputy Head at the Private Office of the President of the European Court of Human Rights, who brings extensive experience in the execution of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, having previously worked with 301the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers; Assoc. Professor Lize R. Glass from Radboud University of Nijmegen; Assist. Professor Vassilis Pergantis from our Law School; Mr. David Milner, Head of the Human Rights Intergovernmental Co-operation Division and Secretary of the Steering Committee for Human Rights within the Council of Europe that negotiated the 2023 Draft Accession Agreement and, last but not least, our very own Professor of EU Law Joseph Ktenidis. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to all of you for your participation and attention.