50 Years of EU Consumer Law: Past Achievements and Future Challenges

The conference will critically examine the acquis through the lens of legislation and Court rulings.

Abstract

The conference celebrates five decades of EU consumer law, bringing together leading academics, judges, and policy-makers to reflect critically on its evolution and future direction. Its objective is to look back at how consumer law has developed and to propose a constructive approach to address today’s challenges — fostering a balanced procedural regime, ensuring effectiveness, embracing digitalization, and reconciling consumer and environmental protection. Opening with addresses from key institutional and academic representatives, the event explores the historical roots and ideological foundations of consumer law, the judicial dialogue between the Court of Justice and national courts, and the role of enforcement mechanisms in ensuring effective protection across borders. Later sessions address the impact of digitalization and the link between consumer and environmental protection. The conference concludes with a forward-looking reflection on how EU consumer law can evolve to meet emerging societal and technological transformations.

Language

English.

This is a free event. Registration is mandatory.

Programme

08.45 – 09.15

Registration and Welcome Coffee
09.15 – 09.30
Opening remarks
- Prof. Katalin Ligeti, Dean of the Faculty of Law Economics and Finance,
- Prof. Takis Tridimas, Director of the LCEL
- Advocate General Laila Medina,
- Prof. Elise Poillot, University of Luxembourg
- Marc Fisher, Premier Conseiller representing Minister Martine Hansen, Minister in charge of Consumer Protection
09.30 – 10.45

From the Preliminary Programme to the Digital Age: A Historical Overview of EU Consumer Protection

Prof. Marco Loos, University of Amsterdam

High Level of Consumer Protection as a Right or a Principle. Does it matter?

Advocate General Laila Medina, Court of Justice of the European Union

The Ideological Foundations of EU Consumer Law

Prof. Elise Poillot, University of Luxembourg

Discussion with the audience
10.45 – 11.15

Coffee break
11.15 – 12.45
Roundtable on EU Consumer Law in the Courts: a Judicial Dialogue

Chair: Christopher Vajda, KC, Moncton Chamber

Discussants:
- Prof. Emilia Mišćenić, University of Rijeka
- Judge Malik Chapuis (fr)
- Judge Giuseppe Fiengo (it)
- Judge Laurence Jaeger (lu)
- Maître Charles Constantin-Vallet (fr)
Discussion with the audience
12.45 – 14.00

Lunch break
14.00 – 15.15
Round table on the Enforcement of Consumer Law

Chair: Judge François Biltgen, Court of Justice of the European Union

Discussants:
- Prof. Peter Rott, University of Oldenburg
- Saverio Valentino, AGCM (it)
- Manuella Peri, DGCCRF (fr)
- Patrick Wildgen, Ministry in charge of Consumer Protection (lu)
- Patrycja Gautier, BEUC
Discussion with the audience
15.15 – 16.30
Roundtable on Consumer Law and Digitalization

Chair: Prof. Anne-Christine Fornage, University of Lausanne

Discussants:
- Benedicte Van Ormelingen, EU commission
- Dries Cuijpers, ACM (nl)
- Prof. Mateusz Grochowski, Tulane University School of Law,
- Prof. Luc Grybaum, University of Luxembourg,
- Prof. Monika Namyslowska, University of Lodz
Discussion with the audience
16.30 – 16.45

Coffee break
16.45 – 18.00
Roundtable on Consumer Law and Environmental Protection

Chair: Judge Paul Nihoul, General Court of the European Union

Discussants:
- Prof. Aude-Solveigh Epstein, University Sorbonne-Abu Dhabi
- Prof. Charlotte Pavillon, University of Groningen
- Anna Szajowska, EU commission
- Prof. Evelyne Terryn, University KU Leuven
Discussion with the audience
18.00 – 18.30

Concluding Remarks: Consumer Protection Today and Tomorrow – A summary of key insights and a vision for the future of consumer law in Europe

Prof. Hans Micklitz, European University Institute
18.30

Cocktail