LAUNCH OF THE RIGHTS-TO-UNITE PROJECT
The upcoming launch of the RIGHTS-TO-UNITE project will take place at UCD Sutherland School of Law on 8 November 2024
(opens in a new window)RIGHTS-TO-UNITE represents a significant step forward in understanding how EU-derived rights are used by individuals in everyday life. The project examines whether such usage of rights promotes or disrupts societal integration at local, national, and European levels. It also aims to offer groundbreaking insights into the role of law in a fractured EU.
Funded by the first ever ERC Advanced Grant awarded to a legal scholar at an Irish university, (opens in a new window)RIGHTS-TO-UNITE will explore a variety of EU-derived rights, such as economic rights, consumer rights, digital rights, and workers’ rights. The project distinguishes itself by focusing on small states both within the EU – (Czechia, Greece, Ireland, and Sweden) - and its neighbouring regions (Northern Ireland (UK), Georgia, North Macedonia, and Norway). These regions provide a unique lens through which the project will investigate how legal frameworks impact societal cohesion.
The event, hosted by UCD’s Sutherland School of Law, will begin with a welcoming address by (opens in a new window)Prof Niamh Moore Cherry, Dean of Social Sciences and College Principal in the UCD College of Social Sciences and Law. Her remarks will be followed by greetings from Prof Kate Robson Brown, Vice President for Research, Innovation and Impact, highlighting the University's commitment to promoting impactful, socially responsible research.
(opens in a new window)Prof Dagmar Schiek, principal investigator of (opens in a new window)RIGHTS-TO-UNITE, and post-doctoral researchers (opens in a new window)Dr Audrey Plan and Dr Mary Naughton will introduce the project and provide an overview of its key objectives and achievements to date, emphasizing the project's unique focus on human interactions rather than institutional structures.
First panel will discuss how the law, when applied in real-world contexts, can influence integration or foster governance challenges, we hope to initiate reflection and discussion with (opens in a new window)Prof Imelda Maher, Director of the Dublin Europe Institute, kickstarting it by exploring the balance between governance and integration, raising questions on how rights can either unite or fragment societies. The discussion will be supported by (opens in a new window)Prof Brigid Laffan, Chancellor of the University of Limerick.
Second panel on EU accession states, chaired by (opens in a new window)Prof Ben Tonra, UCD SPIRE, will feature discussions on how legal frameworks shape social and political discourse in regions undergoing EU accession processes. Speakers will include (opens in a new window)Dr Lia Tsuladze, CSS (Centre for Social Sciences) and Tbilisi State University, who will present on the strategic use of Europeanization by political actors in Georgia, and (opens in a new window)Dr Simonida Kacarska, EPI Skopje, who will examine the impact of EU accession instruments on rights in North Macedonia with (opens in a new window)Prof John O'Brennan, Maynooth University joining the discussion.
The event will also serve as a platform to introduce the future PhD researchers – Aikaterini Katsaouni, Dragana Drndarevska and Lukáš Svoboda, who will be contributing to the project.
As (opens in a new window)RIGHTS-TO-UNITE moves forward, it aims to contribute significantly to European studies by generating a new theory on the role of law in societal integration within and beyond the EU. The project is set to make a substantial impact not only on academic discourse but also on the practical application of rights, fostering a more integrated and cohesive Europe.