European Values in Context: Challenges and Comparative Insights

2026-07-22

This JM Module proposal is based on these key points. First, it aims to spread knowledge of a crucial component of European constitutional law, i.e. the place and functions of the founding values, through a number of teaching activities and events, including a workshop and a final conference. The training activities will be aimed at students but also at representatives of national institutions and civil society. The Module also seeks to develop a critical approach towards the possible ways of protecting the values of the EU and to make proposals on how they could be enforced, also based on institutional practice in some selected federal or multilevel jurisdictions. The comparative focus of some of the training activities will allow highlighting the distinctive features of the case of the European Union. In terms of method, the legal approach will be complemented by other disciplines, notably political science and political philosophy. Moreover, the analysis of crucial EU law issues will take advantage of the extensive resort to comparative law. In terms of contents, the JM Module will be based on a background hypothesis: Article 2 values may serve different purposes but a unitary, consistent consideration of their implications is needed. In order to achieve these goals, the Module will be divided into three subsections distributed over three years, with 40 hours of activities and events per year.

Italy

2025-12-15