Since 2012, EIPA’s European Centre for Judges and Lawyers (ECJL) in Luxembourg has held annual conferences on the theme ‘European Union Civil Service Law’. These events have been a great success and attracted the enthusiasm of many participants, including judges from the European Union Civil Service Tribunal (now defunct) and General Court, legal representatives of the European institutions, and university professors and lawyers specialised in this field. In light of this, EIPA wishes to repeat the experience by organising the 10th Annual Conference. This will be an occasion to explore some of the recent developments in both substantive and procedural law.

What will you learn?

Thanks to this online event you will learn about:

• The most recent trends in the case law of the General Court regarding EU civil service law;
• Insights into developments in the substantive and procedural European civil service law;
• Evolution of the right to be heard;
• Data protection rules related to HR matters;
• Practical tips on the drafting on pleadings in staff cases;
• Damage actions governed by applicable national law;
• Other topical issues to be decided by September 2021.

Course methodology

The online course will be delivered by means of live streaming during one and a half consecutive days via Zoom.

The webinar sessions will be conducted by experts providing presentations on key topics. All sessions will be followed by Q&A sessions allowing for the exchange of ideas, and discussion time where participants will have the opportunity to share professional experiences.

External experts

Julian Currall, Barrister, Alber & Geiger, Brussels, former Principal Legal Adviser – Legal Service and Director of the ECS Team, European Commission, Brussels
Anna Duron, Avocat at the Paris Bar, Ashurst, Brussels
Stéphane Gervasoni, Judge at the General Court of the European Union, Luxembourg
Laure Levi, Avocat at the Brussels Bar, Lallemand & Legros Lawyers, scientific associate at the Institute of European Studies of the University of Brussels
Emmanuel Maurage, Head of Administration, European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), Lithuania
Philippe Singer, Avocat at the Strasbourg and Luxembourg Bars, Honorary Director at the European Court of Justice, chief editor of JurisNews European Civil Service, Luxembourg
Harissios Tagaras, Professor of European Law at the Panteion University of Athens, Lawyer, former Judge at the European Union Civil Service Tribunal, Luxembourg
Pascal Gilliaux, Legal secretary at the Court of Justice of the European Union – General Court, Cabinet of Ms Judge R. Frendo, Luxembourg
Costas Popotas, Head of Unit, Statutory Rights Unit, social and medical affairs, working conditions at the Court of Justice of the European Union, Luxembourg

How will it help you?

By the end of the course, you will:

• Obtain a valuable update on the new tendencies in the ever-evolving EU law governing the staff of the EU institutions;
• Be acquainted with the most important precedents developed by the EU Courts in recent years;
• Learn about new and receive updates on the well-settled principles of this area of law such as duty to state reasons and right to be heard;
• Receive practical tips e.g. related to drafting of pleadings and handling of staff files in compliance with the data protection rules.

Topics, subject to change, to be addressed include:

• General overview of substantive and procedural EU civil service law developments;
• The evolution of the right to be heard in the European civil service: towards an absolute right;
• Procedure under Article 90 of the Staff Regulations;
• Drafting of pleadings in civil service law – practical tips;
• Data protection related to HR matters;
• Damages actions – use and impact of national laws where the EU does not have jurisdiction;
• Recent practices for finding amicable solutions;
• Other topics to be determined.

Target group

• Civil servants and officials of the EU institutions;
• Bodies and agencies who are responsible for legal aspects of human resources management;
• Members of trade unions of the EU institutions;
• Lawyers specialised in EU civil service litigation;
• National experts of civil service law as well as officials of international institutes;
• Non-EU organisations who are responsible for staff matters.

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