A new doctoral training unit (DTU) is taking shape within the Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance (FDEF) at the University of Luxembourg. Under the leadership of coordinator Eleftheria Neframi, thirteen PhD candidates are beginning their academic journey by taking on challenging research topics that explore the effects of the green and digital transformations within the context of the EU Single Market.
Along with partner entities, the Luxembourg Centre for European Law (LCEL) and the Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, the PhD candidates and their supervisors within the DTU GREITMA “GREen and DigItal Transitions in the Single MArket” will approach field-orientated and horizontal questions from three different perspectives:
- The transformative effect of the green and digital transitions on the Single Market
- The use of the Single Market’s mechanisms to regulate a data-driven society adapted to sustainability challenges
- The enforcement mechanisms to effectively apply and facilitate the green and digital transitions
These perspectives will be analysed in view of the objective of the European Union to be a credible international actor promoting European standards in the world, the evolution of the cross-border interdependencies and the implementation and enforcement of the EU regulations at national, and particularly, Luxembourg level.
Five doctoral candidates have already joined the DTU:
- Sotiris Zakynthinos, supervised by Prof. Katerina Pantazatou: The impact of national tax measures pursuing environmental objectives on EU law
- Eirini Botza, supervised by Prof. Silvia Allegrezza: The digitalization of financial forensic investigations, through the prism of the fair trial paradigm of criminal justice
- Erik Paessler, supervised by Prof. Anna-Lena Högenauer: Understanding the green transformation of energy in the EU – Preference-shapingprocesses in domestic and supranational arenas
- Lisa Haro, supervised by Prof. Mark D. Cole: Setting the Global Standard Beyond Borders: The International Impact of the European Union Digital Single Market
- Nicole Visco Comandini, supervised by Prof. Katalin Ligeti: Environmental crimes in the EU
The five GREIMTA DTU students and supervisors meet for a welcome coffee on 2 April 2025.
A unique opportunity for doctoral education
“The project offers a unique opportunity to engage with other PhD candidates and attend seminars and lectures that explore the EU’s green and digital transformations from various legal perspectives,” says Nicole, who holds a Master’s degree in Law from LUISS University (Italy) and an LL.M. in European Criminal Justice from Utrecht University (The Netherlands). Nicole joined the GREITMA DTU after working as a Research and Development Specialist at the FDEF Department of Law. “I believe this interdisciplinary approach allows us to examine our own research within a broader legal and policy context,” Nicole adds.
For Lisa, the choice to continue her legal education at the doctoral level was driven by the desire to specialise in a specific area and pursue a career in academia. “With the project I will take part in, I would like to inspire people and students to think, give them motivation, realise law is not only about being a lawyer, and maybe join us in researching interesting topics!” Lisa completed both her Bachelor’s and her Master’s degrees in Law at the University of Luxembourg, specialising in Media, Communications and Space Law. “I hope that my research will give a clear answer on my topic, whether the EU is capable of being a standard-setter for the regulation of digital services, or not,” begins Lisa. “I hope that we will be able to understand fully the cooperation between big players in this field and give a hint of the future relations on EU and global level.”
Creating an interdisciplinary, international and dynamic research environment
DTU Coordinator and Principal Investigator on the project, Prof. Neframi emphasises the unique research environment that a DTU offers students and supervisors. “It is a collective and transversal project where the students deal with different questions around a single theme, creating coherence and uniting the team towards a common goal.”
Nicole also cites the positive effects of the international environment at the University of Luxembourg, “Working alongside colleagues from diverse national backgrounds and participating in university-hosted events featuring academics and practitioners from across Europe and beyond is truly one of the assets of our university.”
The DTU GREITMA, which is set to run until 2031, aspires to bring its research findings to the wider public through both scientific events and public outreach initiatives, along with regular publications and conferences. Stay up to date on news from the DTU GREITMA by visiting the project webpage.
What is a DTU?
PRIDE is the FNR’s main programme for funding doctoral research in Luxembourg. It supports the development of critical mass in key research areas by attracting excellent doctoral candidates to Luxembourg and offering high quality research training. Under this programme, doctoral grants are awarded to researchers cooperating on a coherent research and training programme, called a DTU or doctoral training unit.
For more information about this funding instrument, visit https://www.fnr.lu/funding-instruments/pride/