The third appointment of our activities was devoted to the scientific developments of the Jean Monnet Chair EUVALWEB and its EUVALWEB Legal Observatory, as well as the importance of scientific publications in the Italian and Albanian university system.

Prof. Miço, with her experience at the Albanian Ministry of Education, illustrated the right to education in international and European law, explaining the reforms adopted in Albania to adapt to EU standards. She then explained the activities being carried out at EPOKA University in Tirana in professional training also in collaboration with ELSA Albania. The participation of student Chiara Mainenti, both as a Young Observer of the EUVALWEB Legal Observatory and as the future President of ELSA Salerno, fostered the discussion on the initiatives to be planned for the second edition of the Jean Monnet EUVALWEB Chair and to involve ELSA Albania and other Balkan countries in our activities.

Prof. Francesco Buonomenna, also in his capacity as Vice-Coordinator of the Italian National University Council, outlined the proposed changes under discussion in the Italian university system. The occasion gave rise to a very fruitful discussion on the recruitment systems for teaching staff in the Italian and Albanian systems and the importance of scientific publications. The participation of Prof. Lucia Di Cintio also enriched the debate with some interesting proposals on the historical reconstruction of the legal institutions of international and European law and on the relationship between citizen and foreigner in the ancient world, highlighting interesting insights into current migration phenomena.

The participation of other members of the Young Observers of the EUVALWEB Legal Observatory, and specifically students Ilaria Boccia and Sara Chiariello, responsible for updating the EU Values and Fundamental Rights section of the EUVALWEB Bulletin, made it possible to highlight the contribution of the European Union to the modernisation of the national education system of the Balkan countries.

Prof. Teresa Russo, as Chair Holder of the Chair and Editor in Chief of the online journal EUWEB Legal Essays. Global & International Perspectives, moderated the meeting and outlined the didactic and professional training activities of the first edition of the Jean Monnet Chair EUVALWEB, which registered excellent results in terms of participation of students, graduates, professionals, civil society and political representatives, with an active role in the involvement of Italian, foreign and Albanian students, in particular. She then recalled the scientific results achieved during the first edition of the Jean Monnet Chair EUVALWEB, pointing out that these will be summarized in her editorial of the next issue of the online journal EUWEB Legal Essays. Global & International Perspectives currently being published.

For further information, see the flyer available at the following link: http://euvalweb.euweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/EUVALWEB-Locandina-incontro-13-7-2023.pdf

This brings to a close the first day of EUVALWEB work with Prof. Heliona Miço, which saw an initial meeting with the staff of the Erasmus and International Relations Office of the University of Salerno in which we discussed the possibility of promoting international exchanges and good practices between the universities of Salerno and EPOKA University of Tirana.

As a member also of the External evaluation expert for higher education at the Board of Accreditation and of the Permanent Commission of Quality Assurance at “Epoka” University, Prof. Miço shared her professional experience by pointing out the changes in Albanian legislation to create training courses of excellence in accordance with European Union standards in the adaptation of teaching programmes. Apart from the EUVALWEB Chair Holder, Prof. Teresa Russo, the EUVALWEB Tutors Dr. Stefano Busillo and Dr. Emanuele Vannata, and the Younger Observers’ Supervisor of the EUVALWEB Legal Observatory, Dr. Elisabetta Lambiase, the meeting was attended by Maria Rizzo, Office Manager, Marco Salemme, Responsible of outgoing staff mobility MON-TUE, Silvia Governatori, Responsible of Incoming mobility for studies, cooperation agreements and international degree mobility and Macarena Escobar Fuentes, Responsible of UNISA Scholarship Programme and bilateral agreements.

This was followed by a meeting with Albanian students Andrea Kokomeci and Egla Leci to discuss their degree dissertations respectively on the impact of EU commercial law on Albania’s economic transformation and the evolution of Albanian data protection legislation in comparison to the EU GDPR.

As supervisors of the dissertations of the two Albanian students, Prof. Miço and Prof. Russo discussed the contents of the works in detail, providing hints and suggestions to highlight how Albania is dealing with the adaptation to the EU acquis in these two areas. Also participating in this meeting were Dr. Busillo, Dr. Vannata and Dr. Lambiase, who were involved in peer education activities with two Albanian students supporting them in their scientific research activities .

On 20 June 2023, the 2nd Concluding Conference of the first edition of EUVALWEB was held at the University of Donja Gorica (UDG, Podgorica, Montenegro), where the EUVALWEB delegation was warmly welcomed. In particular, the Chair Holder, Prof. Teresa Russo, would like to express her deepest gratitude to the Dean of the Law Faculty, Prof. Dragan K. Vukčević, Prof. Nikola B. Šaranović, Member of the EUVALWEB Team Chair, and all the UDG staff for their hospitality.

The conference, entitled ‘Promoting Public Awareness on the Fight Against Transnational Crimes, the Role of Police and Judicial Cooperation and Respect for Fundamental Rights‘ was attended by UDG students and various stakeholders, including: academics, legal professionals and practitioners, policy makers, civil society representatives and NGOs. In particular, EUVALWEB would like to thank Ms. Jelena Đalena Đalovic (Liaison Prosecutor for Montenegro at EUROJUST), as well as Mr. Dragan K. Vukčević (Former President of the Judicial Council of Montenegro) and Mr. Riccardo Serri (Head of the EU Delegation in Montenegro) for their involvement.

We believe that it was an exceptional response to the multidisciplinary initiative put forward by the University of Salerno and the University of Donja Gorica, gathering the reflections of experts in EU law, international law, criminal law, criminal procedural law and constitutional law.

On the one hand, the professionals highlighted past and ongoing changes in the Montenegrin legal system and society, in line with the European acquis communautaire in view of Montenegro’s accession to the European Union. On the other hand, the EUVALWEB Chair Holder shared with the audience the European trends resulting from the analysis conducted within the research activities of the EUVALWEB Legal Observatory, highlighting the current implementation challenges in the EU Member States, including Italy.

The event was pleasantly interspersed with recurring open debates after each session. Above all, the valuable contribution of the students who took to the microphone to share their impressions of Montenegro’s accession to the European Union cannot be emphasized enough.

Finally, the conference was followed by the local media, in particular by Radio Televizija Crne Gore, the public service broadcaster of Montenegro (https://rtcg.me/vijesti/drustvo/440269/u-evropi-aktivno-3600-kriminalnih-grupa.html).

An album full of pictures from the day is available on our Facebook account at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/set=a.763180348931850&type=

Yesterday, on 29 May 2023, the University of Salerno hosted the 1st Final Conference of the first edition of the Jean Monnet Chair “Promoting Public Awareness on Enlargement Policy, EU Values and the Western Balkans’ Accession” (EUVALWEB), with Prof. Teresa Russo as Chair Holder.

An album full of pictures of the conference day is now available on our Facebook account, at the link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.749349303648288&type=3

After the welcoming speeches, the event remarkably saw the participation of stakeholders from the civil society, who also acted as our precious partners.

On top of that, the Conference itself was structured as a workshop, featuring a speaker-discussant formula. On one hand, the UNISA and Erasmus students, including Albanian students, were involved in-depth explanation of the studied topics, explanations that lead to a final question to ask to our discussants. On the other hand, these discussants – selected among diplomats, academics and practitioners – duly provided the required answers, dialoguing with the students and the audience.

Conclusively, the Young Observers from our EUVALWEB Legal Observatory showcased the main findings of their monitoring and research activities during the year, addressing the direction that the EU seems to have taken.

EUVALWEB wishes to thank the participants for their efforts and support during these months, extending to everybody an invitation to attend its second edition in 2024!

Stay tuned for the 2nd final Conference in Montenegro for the next 20 June!