National versus Union Law
11/18/2025The tense relationship between the law of the member states and the law of the European Union is the topic of the 30th European Law Days of the Faculty of Law at the University of Würzburg. They will take place on 21 and 22 November.
The Würzburg European Law Days have a long tradition dating back to 1991. In addition to lawyers from the judiciary, administration and academia, numerous students are always among the participants.
The 30th European Law Days will take place on Friday and Saturday, 21 and 22 November 2025, in Lecture Hall I of the Old University, Neubaustraße 16. The motto is: "National v. Union law: role model - maverick - imitator".
Member State Law as a Source of Inspiration
Background: European Union law often forces national legislators to make adjustments, resulting in increasing harmonisation of the legal systems of the member states. However, attention should also be paid to cases that are less in the centre of attention, in which member state law becomes a source of inspiration for developments at European level.
In some cases, Member State legislators deliberately decide to go it alone at national level, which differs more or less clearly from the standard set by EU law. More frequently, however, the member states also decide voluntarily and without the pressure of a directive to follow the European model and adapt their law.
Examples from Five Areas of Law
During the European Law Days, the different variants will be examined in more detail from a German and French perspective using selected examples from five areas of law: international law, criminal law, company law, labour law and civil law.
All speakers teach and research at the two long-standing partner universities of Caen and Würzburg. The lectures will be held in the speaker's native language. This will be followed by a summarising translation into the other language.
Organiser and Registration
The European Law Days 2025 are organised by the Chair of Global Business Law, International Arbitration and Civil Law at the University of Würzburg under the direction of Professor Florian Bien.
Further information on the programme and free registration on the website at www.europarechtstage.de
Contact
Chair of Global Business Law, International Arbitration and Civil Law (Secretary), T: +49 931 31 86096, L-Wirtschaftsrecht@jura-uni.wuerzburg.de
