Call for papers – Protection of the Union’s Financial Interests

Protection of the Union’s Financial Interests: Developments and Challenges in Multi-Level Enforcement
Conference of the Jean Monnet Network on EU Law Enforcement (EULEN)

30 May – 1 June 2022
University of Luxembourg

CALL FOR PAPERS

THEME OF THE CONFERENCE

The Conference, organised by the University of Luxembourg in the framework of the Jean Monnet Network on EU Law Enforcement (EULEN), will analyse the latest developments and challenges across three levels of EU norms enforcement in the protection of the Union’s financial interests (PIF) sector: decentralised, transnational, and supranational.

The PIF sector plays a special and unique role in EU law, as it concerns the protection of a legal interest – the Union’s budget – defined as an ‘institutional’, ‘supranational’, and ‘quintessential’ interest of the Union. For its uniqueness, the PIF sector has always been a ‘laboratoire juridique’ for the development of EU criminal law, as exemplified by the newly operational European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), and the Commission’s proposal to create a new EU Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism. Besides a move towards further agencification of the PIF sector, new means of enforcement are put in place, such as a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget in case of rule of law breaches.

We welcome abstract submissions from academics (including PhD researchers), practitioners, and members of the civil society conducting research in the enforcement of EU norms in the PIF sector in all its dimensions. Social and political scientists are also encouraged to submit abstracts in order to foster cross-fertilization and multidisciplinary analysis.

FORMAT OF THE CONFERENCE

The Conference will take place in person at the University of Luxembourg. The first day of the Conference will consist of short presentations of papers selected on the basis of this Call for Papers, with invited stakeholders and scholars acting as discussants. On the second day, selected authors will be given the opportunity to attend the special scientific event ‘EPPO One Year in Action: Towards Resolving Complexity and Bringing Added Value’ with various panels composed of high-profile speakers from various EU IBOAs, national practitioners, and prominent academic scholars. Finally, the third day will be dedicated to the EPPO’s first year anniversary with ceremonial keynote speeches.

INDICATIVE PAPER TOPICS

Decentralised Enforcement

• PIF Directive: the 2021 Implementation Report and Non-Conformity Issues
• The “Dual Track Approach” of Criminal and Administrative Enforcement in the PIF Sector
• Ne Bis In Idem and Latest Developments in the Jurisprudence of the CJEU
• The New Union-Anti Fraud Programme (Regulation 2021/785)
• Anti-Fraud Measures in National Recovery and Resilience Plans in the Aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Transnational Enforcement

• PIF Enforcement in Third Countries: Obstacles and Recommendations
• Added Value of Instruments of Mutual Recognition and Judicial Cooperation in the PIF Sector
• Admissibility of Evidence: Latest Developments in the EU
• Relevance of the E-evidence Package to the PIF Sector

Supranational Enforcement

• Functioning, Problems, and Activities of EU Institutions, Bodies, Offices, and Agencies Involved in the PIF Sector
• The New Conditionality Regime (Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2092)
• Commission’s Proposal for a new EU AML/CFT Authority
• Agencification of the PIF sector: Added Value or Further Complexity?

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION

Abstracts (max. 400 words) must be sent via email to Mr. Panayiotis Constantinides (panayiotis.constantinides@uni.lu) no later than 5 February 2022, and must include the following information:

• A short bio of the author
• The author’s name and affiliation
• The author’s contact details
• The panel for which the abstract should be considered: decentralised / transnational / supranational

The abstracts will be assessed by the conference committee which consists of Prof. Katalin Ligeti, Dr. Miroslava Scholten, and Panayiotis Constantinides. Abstracts will be selected taking into account the originality and innovative nature of the work and relevance to the theme of the Conference.

PUBLICATION

Selected speakers should submit a draft of their paper (min. 4,000 words) prior to the Conference. After the Conference, each submitted paper will be published in the EULEN online working paper series and will also be considered for submission as a special issue, if possible, to the New Journal of European Criminal Law, indexed in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI – Web of Science). Further details about how to submit papers for publication will be provided to all speakers immediately after the Conference.

TIMELINE

• Deadline for submission of abstracts: 5 February 2022.
• Successful applicants will be informed no later than 20 February 2022.
• Deadline for submission of full papers is 20 May 2022.

FINANCING

Accommodation (2 nights) and travel (with a maximum limit) costs will be covered for the selected authors.

CONTACT

For further information, please, check the website https://jmn-eulen.nl/ or write to Mr. Panayiotis Constantinides at panayiotis.constantinides@uni.lu.