Portrait-style graphic with an upper section showing a woman in a light blazer against a plain background, and a lower teal panel with a quote in white text: “Article 41(2) TEU […] tends to be interpreted as a blanket ban on EU defence spending. However, a closer analysis suggests that this presumption is overly restrictive.” The name “Carolyn Moser” appears centered below the quote.

Rethinking EU defence: if the law already allows closer cooperation, what is really holding the EU back?

@moserc.bsky.social argues that political will, not legal gaps, is the main obstacle to a more integrated EU defence posture.

Read more: kluwerlawonline.com/api/Product/... #EUdefence

Portrait of Luke Dimitrios Spieker. Quote by DFG. Text: Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize. Max Planck Society logo.

Can the EU charter of rights actually enforce judicial independence?

MPIL's Luke Dimitrios Spieker maps the exact legal tools used to defend these values. Last week, he won the 2026 Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize for this research.

Details: www.dfg.de/de/gefoerder...

A poster with a bright green to dark teal gradient background. At the top center is the circular white logo of the Max Planck Society featuring the profile of Minerva. Below the logo, white text reads: "HEGEL AND EU LAW, MAX PLANCK MASTER CLASS 2026, WITH ANA BOBIĆ." The text "MAX PLANCK" appears at the bottom center.

A portrait of Ana Bobić smiling, standing in front of shelves filled with orange Max Planck Institute publications. Below the photo, against a dark teal background, a quote reads: "Nation-states know what they are; they are sites of social production and political belonging. The EU is torn between two identities: a market identity and a political identity. That is specific to it, and the hierarchies reflect that tension." The name ANA BOBIĆ appears at the bottom.

Does EU law secure political belonging, or just facilitate a market?

@anabobic.bsky.social uses Hegel to critique this structural tension at the 2026 Max Planck Masterclass (26–29 May, Heidelberg).

Apply by tonight to join the debate and young scholars workshop: www.mpil.de/de/pub/forsc...

After Habermas: Europe, Democracy, and the Meaning of Society In the wake of Jürgen Habermas’s death, a conversation with Matthias Goldmann on a thinker whose questions quietly accompanied last week’s conference on European society and whose ideas still shape ho...

At our recent @mpil.de conference on "European Society," Jürgen Habermas became an unexpected focal point. Whether you like his work on European democracy or not, it is hard to avoid.

www.linkedin.com/pulse/after-...

Lunch and Law: EU Law and Democratic Sovereignty in Times of Imperial Rivalries - Max Planck Law This seminar series will review how key domains of EU economic law are evolving in the context of this geopolitical and geo-economic challenge.

How is EU law adapting to rising geopolitical rivalries—and what does this mean for democratic sovereignty? On 25 March, the ‘Lunch and Law’ series (@mpilhlt.bsky.social/ @mpil.de) starts with Hugo Canihac on EU economic law, democracy, and global competition: law.mpg.de/event/lunch-... #Event

Abstract graphic announcing the conference "Human Rights Under Challenge and the Reconfiguration of International Law," taking place in Heidelberg on 2 Oct 2026. The event is convened by the editors of the Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law. The image features the Max Planck Minerva logo over a dark background with fluid curves of orange and blue light

Are global crises eroding human rights law, or forcing it to adapt?

Join us in Heidelberg on Oct 2 to map the reconfiguration of international law.

Apply as an engaged listener by May 31: www.mpil.de/en/pub/news/...

#HumanRights #MPILHeidelberg #MPEPIL

Green gradient poster with Max Planck logo and white text: “Max Planck Masterclass 2026 – Hegel and EU Law – with Ana Bobić – Max Planck.”

What changes when we read EU law through Hegel’s philosophy of right?

26–29 May, Dr Ana Bobić leads a 4‑day Masterclass at MPIL Heidelberg on EU law, Hegel’s philosophy of right, and landmark CJEU cases.

Info & applications (by 22 March): lnkd.in/dibEec77

#MaxPlanckMasterclass2026

Committee on Security and Defence Ordinary meeting HEARING Joint meeting Committee on Constitutional Affairs - Multimedia Centre The multimedia platform of the European Parliament is the official public available repository of the media production of the Secretariat of the European Parliament, managed by the Directorate-General...

European defence: blocked by law or by politics? @moserc.bsky.social argues governments underuse the tools they already have for a “European Defence Union”.

Watch her input and the full hearing: multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/webstream...

#DefenceUnion #ENSURE #MPIL

Curious about the impact of global warming on animal law?

Join us next week for "Global Animal Law and Global Warming" presented by Professor Anne Peters (Director at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law) as part of our Talking Animals series. (1/2)

An artistic illustration representing European society, featuring a diverse crowd of brightly coloured, faceless silhouettes in the foreground. A stylized landscape of houses sits behind them under a sky of flowing yellow and blue ribbons, with the European Union flag's yellow stars visible in the top left corner.

Early-career scholars: is "European society" a lived reality or a legal construct? Bring your doctrinal, socio-legal, or critical arguments to our MPIL conference (17-18 Sept).

Deadline: 31 March 2026.
Full call: www.mpil.de/en/pub/news/...

#CallForPapers #EuropeanLaw

Take a walk on the dark side of European society: @silviasteininger.bsky.social and @jennyos.bsky.social on who is (and who is not) recognised.

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

📣 Join us on 12 March (18:00 CET), at Humboldt University of Berlin, for a panel on “Multiperspectivism in International Legal Scholarship”.

Hosted by @annepetersmpil.bsky.social & @chr-marxsen.bsky.social, with Kalika Mehta, Fuad Zarbiyev & @drqv.bsky.social

www.mpil.de/apps/eventca...

Black and white portrait of Jochen Abraham Frowein. He is an older man with short, light hair, wearing a dark suit, light shirt, and striped tie with a pocket square. He is looking slightly to his right with a gentle expression and has his right hand raised in a conversational or explanatory gesture.

Jochen Abraham Frowein (1934–2026) has passed away.

A pivotal figure in international law, he served as MPIL Director, VP of the European Commission of Human Rights, and mentor to generations of scholars. We are grateful for his immense scholarly legacy.

Full obituary: www.mpil.de/en/pub/i7104...

#NewEpisodeAlert 🎙️🚢

In ep. 9 of the Voices of JHIL podcast, Scott Andrew Keefer joins us to discuss the international legal dynamics of the naval arms race of the early 20th century.

@mpil.de @degruyterbrill.bsky.social

Listen to our newest ep. here🎧: www.buzzsprout.com/2314029/epis...

From Heidelberg’s seminar rooms to shaping Europe’s legal response to a war of aggression: In our #MPIL100 conversation series, Jörg Polakiewicz talks about the “Heidelberg Method,” Western blind spots, and why legal rigor still matters in times of crisis. Watch now: youtu.be/fVhBAHAwHcE?...

A graphic featuring a stylized, minimal line drawing of a smartphone on a dark green background. The phone screen displays abstract blocks of text representing a newsletter layout, with the MPIL logo at the top right. To the left of the phone, large orange text reads: 'SIGNAL. NOT NOISE.' Bottom left text reads: 'MPIL's New Newsletter'.

International law is in turmoil; scholarship shouldn't be hard to find. 📧

We’ve relaunched the MPIL newsletter to cut the noise & connect you to our research.

Feb issue: Law & Emotions, ECHR @ 75, & US Foreign Policy.

Join the list ↓
www.mpil.de/en/pub/servi...

#InternationalLaw #MPILHeidelberg

The "Guantanamo model" for Greenland: U.S. gets complete jurisdiction, Denmark keeps sovereignty on paper.

MPIL's @annepetersmpil.bsky.social explains what Trump's "framework" actually means—and why NATO can't sign it.

Watch (DE): youtu.be/SfOVMeb9VHE?...

Anne Peters, Max-Planck-Institut für Völkerrecht Heidelberg, zu Trumps "Friedensrat" Anne Peters, Max-Planck-Institut für Völkerrecht Heidelberg, zu Trumps "Friedensrat"

"Luftnummer oder UN 2.0?" US-Präsident Trump hat in Davos einen "Friedensrat" ins Leben gerufen. Er soll weltweit Konflikte lösen. Welche Länder machen mit? Ist der "Friedensrat" eine Konkurrenz zur UN? Anne Peters, Direktorin @mpil.de, ordnet die Situation ein: www.tagesschau.de/video/video-...

Trump's Greenland push tests whether self-determination still matters.

@annepetersmpil.bsky.social: Greenlanders must decide, likely via multiple referenda. Direct payments would be troubling (vote-buying), but infrastructure or military leases could work.

🔗🔒 www.nzz.ch/wirtschaft/s...

International Law in the Time of Monsters. MPIL100 Conversation with Anne Peters YouTube video by MPIL Heidelberg

From "epistemic nationalism" to the "time of monsters" -@annepetersmpil.bsky.social on why scholars cannot stay silent in a turbulent decade for international law.

Watch the full MPIL100 conversation with Anne Peters and Heike Krieger: youtu.be/NOeNg3GX6Gk

#MPIL100 #InternationalLaw

Trump möchte wohl einen Deal machen: Können die USA Grönland einfach kaufen? US-Präsident Donald Trump will die Insel im Atlantik unbedingt haben. Neben Gewalt erwägt Washington nun offenbar auch den Einsatz von Geld. Doch Völkerrechtler sehen das skeptisch.

“Purchase” or “lease” of Greenland does not fit into (post-)modern international law, as @annepetersmpil.bsky.social stresses – what matters is Greenland’s right to self-determination, not Trump’s dealmaking.

🔗 www.tagesspiegel.de/internationa... (paywall)

#Greenland #USPolitics #Arctic

The European Approach to Human Rights-Based Climate Litigation in Global Context

5/ How do international courts engage with climate change? 🌍

JANNIKA JAHN (@mpil.de) traces the European approach to climate litigation in global context — and shows how a shared core of human-rights-based climate due diligence is emerging.

verfassungsblog.de/the-european...

Call for applications! I'll be holding the 2026 Masterclass at the @mpil.de on 26-29 May 2026, on what Hegel's philosophy adds to the study of EU law. The call is open to all academics with an interest in the topic, with a special PhD workshop. Apply by 22 March 2026: jobs.mpil.de/jobposting/e...

Max Planck Trialogues on the Law of Peace and War Vol. VI - Max Planck Law

Reminder: @mpil.de and the Humboldt University will host the Sixth Authors’ Workshop of the Max Planck Trialogues on 12–13 March 2026 in Berlin. Researchers can apply as ‘engaged listeners’. Register by 15 December: law.mpg.de/event/max-pl... #MPINetworkEvent

“Nunca más”: How Colombia’s peace court rewired justice for mass kidnappings Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace just delivered its first conviction against FARC leaders for systematic kidnappings — opting for restorative sanctions over prison. In this interview, MPIL se...

Can you hold war criminals accountable without prison? Colombia's peace court just convicted FARC leaders for 21,000+ kidnappings—choosing monitored reparative work instead.

New interview with MPIL's Carolina Bejarano Martínez ↓

www.linkedin.com/pulse/nunca-...

#TransitionalJustice #ICCALLab

Armin von Bogdandy: ICCAL - Forschen zu und mit Lateinamerika. Der Weg des Max Planck Instituts. YouTube video by MPIL Heidelberg

From constitutional courts to democratic resilience—Armin von Bogdandy traces MPIL's 60-year collaboration with Latin America.

Watch (ES/EN subtitles): youtu.be/wTXXOQVISaM

#ICCAL #XXSeminarioICCAL #MPILHeidelberg

Doubly Invisible: “Climate Refugees” Still Wait for the Law to Catch Up Even as courts recognize climate‑related harms and governments make new finance pledges, those forced to move by heat, floods or rising seas remain stuck in a legal gray zone. In this conversation fol...

COP30 ended with no new protections for people displaced by climate impacts.

Laura Kraft on why climate-displaced people remain "doubly invisible" — and which legal tools states are already ignoring.

👉 www.linkedin.com/pulse/doubly...

#COP30 #MPILHeidelberg

The ECHR’s Contribution to European Society

2/ How has the European Convention on Human Rights shaped European society?

ARMIN VON BOGDANDY (@mpil.de) traces the Convention’s significance for Article 2 TEU’s European society in four steps:

verfassungsblog.de/the-echrs-co...

Sharepic with the name of the symposium

75 years of the ECHR ✨⚖️

A system that shaped human rights across Europe — and far beyond — now faces profound new challenges.

Our new symposium with @mpil.de brings together voices from across the globe to reflect on its past, present and future.

verfassungsblog.de/category/deb...

Juliana Valle Pereira Guerra: Human Rights Obligations in the Face of Climate Change YouTube video by MPIL Heidelberg

In the 5th Rudolf Bernhardt Lecture, Dr Juliana Valle Pereira Guerra (#ICJ) shows how the Court’s 2025 climate advisory opinion can move from principle to practice—through procedure: jurisdiction, standing, erga omnes, provisional measures, interventions.

Watch: youtu.be/ob98v4kfnh4

#ClimateLaw