Academic Event on “EU Values in A Fragmented World” at ELGS Rome
On the occasion of the opening of its new campus in Rome, the European Law and Governance School (ELGS) of the European Public Law Organization (EPLO), hosted an activity titled “EU Values in a Fragmenting World: Enlargement, Identities and External Governance.”
The event brought together academics and practitioners to reflect on the evolving meaning of EU values amid geopolitical tensions, democratic challenges, and renewed enlargement debates. It was attended by students, scholars, and representatives of international organizations in Rome, including UNICRI and IDLO. Mr. Dimitris Tsaknis welcomed the participants on behalf of EPLO/ELGS.
The discussion highlighted key themes:
- Associate Professor Daniela Vitiello examined solidarity as a core EU principle, emphasizing its legal, political, and normative dimensions, as well as tensions between national interests and collective responsibility.
- Associate Professor Simone Benvenuti addressed the EU’s role in promoting democracy, noting the gap between its normative ambitions and political realities, and pointing to a more pragmatic, context-sensitive approach.
- Dr. Anna Khvorostiankina focused on Armenia’s EU-oriented reforms, stressing that while legal alignment is often achieved, effective implementation requires deeper institutional and societal change, with a key role for civil society support.
- Dr. Ilaria Bottigliero offered a practitioner perspective on rule of law reform, highlighting the importance of combining institutional change with bottom-up empowerment, drawing on examples from multiple regions.
Overall, the panel underscored that EU values are dynamic and contested, shaped by both internal and external factors. The discussion, enriched by audience engagement, highlighted the importance of academic and policy dialogue in addressing governance challenges in an increasingly fragmented world
