This conference brings together world-leading academics and practitioners, to reflect critically yet constructively on the past achievements of the internal market in the process of European integration, its current state (including the various legal and political controversies that have arisen over the past years, especially in relation to its arguably imperfect accommodation of other public interests), and its future (including the challenges and opportunities posed by digitalization and technological progress more generally).

The aim of the conference is to formulate fundamental and concrete proposals for the further development of the internal market project, on the basis of a holistic and honest account of the past and present, its achievements and its failings.

The conference will commemorate the late Professor Alfonso MATTERA, distinguished faculty member of the Department of European Legal Studies of the College of Europe and invaluable contributor to the internal market project through his work in the European Commission and as an academic. Specifically, the conference will organize the opening panel session on “The Internal Market in its Historical Context” in his honor, which will be chaired by Professor Laurence GORMLEY.

The working languages are English and French.

Speakers’ contributions will be published in either an edited volume or as a special journal edition, to be determined.

The conference is open to the public upon registration before 11 February 2019, 8:00. Participation is free of charge for all students and staff of the College of Europe and for external students. Other participants should pay 100€ (coffee breaks and lunches included).

For the programme and registration, please click here.