Between 14 and 16 June, the Hungarian Academy of Justice hosted the EU and European civil procedure semi-final of EJTN’s 2023 THEMIS Competition in Budapest. Five teams took part, with Team Germany securing first place. The French team came second, with Romania in third place.
The members of the winning team – Jonathan Kress, Hannah Braun and Sandra Isenburg – discussed the potential of a Climate Liability Directive to strengthen climate protection. They impressed the jury with their proposal to use private enforcement as a tool in the fight against climate change.
Louise Carliez, Erwan Smith and Alexandre Orts from Team France discussed the Unified Patent Court and the unitary patent, with a surprise visit from the time-travelling Dr Emmett Brown, who came back from the future.
The papers presented by the winning teams will be published in the forthcoming edition of the THEMIS Annual Journal. Team Germany and Team France will attend the grand final in Bucharest, Romania, in December.
EJTN extends its gratitude to all the teams who took part, along with the Hungarian Academy of Justice for their warm hospitality and impeccable coordination of this THEMIS semi-final. Sincere thanks are also due to the jury members: Judge Rossana Giannaccari, Professor Aleš Galič and Mr Milan Bajić.
Quotes
The members of Team Germany said:
“We are delighted to be part of this year’s THEMIS Competition and to have had the opportunity to present our ideas in front of the jury, as well as learning so much from the other teams. It was an amazing event!”.
The chair of the jury, Judge Rossana Giannaccari, noted:
“THEMIS is a high-quality forum for exploring a wide range of legal concepts and challenges. We shared reflections on unexplored, relevant and controversial issues, such as the rights of the LGBTI+ community, geo-blocking, unified patents, contracts and torts, and using the law to address environmental damage.”
“The EU can be proud of its future judges and prosecutors. The papers we received covered a wide range of topics and addressed issues that will shape the future of the EU and our society”.
Note for editors
EJTN has organised the highly acclaimed THEMIS Competition annually since 2010. It is open to future EU magistrates who are undergoing entry-level training. The competition provides a platform for debating EU law, practising judicial skills, and exchanging experiences and perspectives.
During the semi-final, the teams have to deliver a written paper on a topic of their choice, then give a 30-minute presentation, reply to audience questions and participate in a 45-minute discussion with the jury.
Between 2006 and 2009, the event was organised and financed by the Portuguese Centre of Judiciary Studies and the National Institute of Magistracy of Romania.
The 2023 THEMIS Competition will consist of four semi-finals:
• Semi-final A: EU and European criminal procedure: 16-19 May, Budapest, Hungary.
• Semi-final B: EU and European family law: 6-9 June 2023, Naples, Italy.
• Semi-final C: EU and European civil procedure: 14-16 June 2023, Budapest, Hungary.
• Semi-final D: Judicial ethics and professional conduct: 3-7 July 2023, Krakow, Poland.
The winner and runner-up of each semi-final qualify for the grand final on Access to justice, which will be held in Bucharest in December.
The best-written papers, selected by the jury from all the papers presented during the semi-finals, are published in the THEMIS Annual Journal.
The competition winners will be awarded a 5-day study visit hosted by an EJTN Member.
