On 10 November, ERA’s Governing Board convened at the foundation’s headquarters in Trier under the leadership of President Jean-Claude Juncker. The meeting brought together its patrons to review ERA’s progress and set priorities for the years ahead.
Among the guests present were Marc van der Woude, Chair of the ERA Board of Trustees and President of the General Court of the EU, Sabine Verheyen, Chair of ERA’s Political Advisory Board and First Vice-President of the European Parliament, and Milan Hodás, State Secretary of the Slovak Ministry of Justice. Joining online were Dariusz Mazur, Undersecretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Justice, and Nenad Vujić, Serbian Minister of Justice.
The agenda included the approval of the 2024 accounts and the adoption of the 2026 budget. A central focus was the 2026 Action Plan, which translates ERA’s 2021–2027 Development Strategy into concrete measures. The plan aims to improve outreach and visibility, particularly among younger legal professionals, strengthen ERA’s financial stability, promote sustainability, and accelerate digitalisation across its activities.
In addition, the Governing Board confirmed several key appointments: Philipp Fernis, Minister of Justice of Rhineland-Palatinate, and Nela Riehl MEP, Chair of the CULT Committee, were elected to the Political Advisory Board. The Board of Trustees will be reinforced by Dr Arben Murtezić, Legal Counsel to the Vice-President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Ramona Strugariu, Director of the National Institute of Justice of Moldova.
Furthermore, two members of ERA’s Management Board were renewed for another five years: Jean-Philippe Rageade as Director and Lilian Erbel as Deputy Director.
The meeting underscored ERA’s commitment to shaping a strong, sustainable future for legal training in Europe.
With its headquarters located in close proximity to the Court of Justice of the European Union and a diverse, Europe-wide network, ERA plays a key role in promoting the understanding and application of EU law across national borders.
