9 April 2025
News from the Friends of ERA: Engaging Events from the Portuguese and Italian Chapters in the First Quarter
Portuguese & Young Friends Chapters
Migration and the Future of EuropeOnline, 30 January 2025
The Friends of ERA launched their 2025 Chapters’ activities with a well-attended online event, co-hosted by the Portuguese and the Young Friends Chapters. On 30 January, 37 participants gathered to discuss European migration policy and its complexities.
We were honoured to welcome Dr António Vitorino, former Director-General of the International Organisation for Migration and former EU Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs. His insights provided a deeper understanding of the EU's new Pact on Migration, emphasising the importance of coordination among Member States. He also discussed the potential of well-structured bilateral agreements between the EU and third countries, and the need to ensure that migration policies uphold international law, particularly the principle of non-refoulement. Dr Vitorino stressed the necessity of maintaining a humanitarian perspective in migration and asylum policies, encouraging policy professionals and legal experts to approach their work with empathy and humility.
The event offered a meaningful exchange of ideas, reinforcing our shared commitment to creating a more informed Europe.
Italian Chapter
The Resilience of the Court of Justice of the European Union in the Face of CrisesMilan, 24 March 2025
On 24 March, the Italian Chapter hosted a memorable event in Milan, blending cultural enrichment with legal insight. The evening began with a private guided tour of the Gallerie d’Italia, followed by a cocktail discussion focusing on the resilience of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) during times of crisis.
The event featured Andrea Biondi, Advocate General at the CJEU, and Ornella Porchia, President of the Chamber of the General Court of the EU. The discussion was chaired by Giulio Gambino, Director of Il Post Internazionale, and provided a valuable opportunity for 20 Friends of ERA to engage with some of the leading legal minds in Europe.
Our sincere thanks go to Gabriella Muscolo, Coordinator of the Italian Chapter, for her dedication in organising yet another successful event for our community.
In June, the Friends of ERA Association has two main events scheduled:
On 13 June 2025, the 16th General Meeting of the Association will take place in Trier and online. All Friends of ERA are warmly invited to register HERE and join us - either in person or online.The evening before the General Meeting, on Thursday, 12 June, the German and Luxembourg Chapters will host a joint event in Trier. This gathering offers a unique opportunity to explore Mosel wines and visit Germany's oldest wine cellar. The wine-tasting will be accompanied by a presentation on Exploring the Mosel Wine Region, by Dr Maximilian Hendgen, wine expert and Managing Director of the Mosel & Mittelrhein Winegrowers' Association. The evening will conclude with a dinner at TREZA restaurant in the city centre. Further details and registration options can be found HERE.
