As part of our participation in the Fair Project, we are pleased to invite you to a dedicated roundtable discussion for civil society organisations and law practitioners working in the field of migration and asylum. The event will focus on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and its role in promoting a culture of rights across Europe.
🔍 About the FAIR Project
The FAIR project “EU Charter of Fundamental rights: Awareness raising and Instruments to promote a culture of Rights” (FAIR), is promoted by a consortium of nine organisations based in nine different EU countries – Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain. FAIR steps in the framework of – is a direct response to the solicitations enshrined in the European Commission’s 2020 “Strategy to Strengthen the Application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights“. This strategy, launched on the 20th anniversary of the EU Charter, outlines significant progress and persistent challenges in its implementation across EU Member States.
🗣️ Event Objectives:
Explore how the Charter is (or is not) used in migration and asylum-related contexts in Belgium.
- Identify practical challenges and opportunities in applying rights-based approaches.
- Foster peer learning and exchange among CSOs active in the field of migration and asylum.
- Encourage peer learning among legal and justice professionals.
📋 Programme Overview
14:00 - 14:10 | Welcome and Introduction
Introduction to the FAIR project.
Speaker: Member of the VUB Project Team
14:10 - 14:30 | Opening Remarks by a CSO Representative
Perspectives from the field: challenges, successes, and the role of the Charter.
Speaker: Pieter Van Roeyen (Caritas International)
14:30 - 14:50 | Academic Perspective on the Charter’s Application
How can the Charter be used in legal proceedings and CSO action? Reflections
from case law and practice in Belgium or abroad.
Speaker: Luc Leboeuf (University of Liège)
14:50 - 15:10 | Expert Presentation: Highlights from FRANET Research
- The state of the rule of law in Belgium
- Migration and access to fundamental rights
- (Non-)Current use of the Charter
Speaker: Cedric Jenart (University of Antwerp)
15:10 - 15:25 | Coffee break and transition to parallel sessions
Parallel Session 1: Addressed to Justice Practitioners
15:25 - 15:50 | Group Discussions
Participants will be divided into small groups to reflect on key questions:
- Where do you observe tensions between national law and the Charter in migration matters?
- In which areas could the Charter be better used?
- What are the barriers to its concrete use?
15:50 - 16:05 | Plenary Feedback and Exchange
Each group briefly shares one idea or finding.
Open discussion and summary of recurring points and practical ideas.
16:05 - 16:25 | Case Study Reflection: Using the Charter
Presentation of a scenario inspired by real events by Cedric Jenart (University of
Antwerp) and VUB.
Collective discussion on:
- Relevant Charter rights
- The possibility of invoking the Charter in court
- Legal or institutional support needed
Parallel Session 2: Addressed to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)
15:25 - 16:25 | Guided Roundtable Discussion
Participants will engage in an open discussion structured in three parts:
- Realities and Gaps in Rights Protection
- The Role and Use of the EU Charter
- Strengthening Awareness and Implementation
Wrap-Up and Key Takeaways
16:25 - 16:45 | Conclusion
All participants- justice practitioners and CSOs- reconvene in the joint session to
present their distinct insights and conclusions of their parallel discussions.
📝 Register to Attend
Participation is free, but registration is required.
For any questions, please contact:
📧 sibel.top@vub.be or anna.maria.totokotsi@vub.be
We look forward to welcoming you to a rich and engaging exchange.