Mitsides LLC

DIGITALISATION AND AI

This multi-annual project addresses various challenges linked to digitalisation that judges, prosecutors and lawyers in private practice working in the field of EU Criminal Justice will have to face for the years ahead. Some of these challenges such as the exchange of electronic evidence, videoconferencing, use of open source intelligence, artificial intelligence software in courts, digital technology, etc. are there to stay and will become the “new normal”.

#DIGITALISATION AND #AI 2024-2027 – Judicial training to prepare criminal justice professionals to #digitalisation and #artificialintelligence Home This multi-annual project addresses various challenges linked to digitalisation that judges, prosecutors and lawyers in private practice working in the field of EU Criminal Justice will have to face for the years ahead. Some of these challenges such as the exchange of electronic evidence, video...

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗘𝗥𝗔: 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀-𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 & 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗲r 🌍⚖️🎄

𝗛𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰: ERA Talks with Eurojust President Michael Schmid 🎥⚖️
This week we recorded a new episode of ERA Talks with Michael Schmid, President of Eurojust. The interview, conducted by ERA’s Director Jean-Philippe Rageade, offered an in-depth look at how the agency has evolved, the growing reach of its cooperation with non-EU countries, and the changing threat landscape shaped by new forms of crime. President Schmid also reflected on the role of AI, Eurojust’s work with other JHA agencies, the 2025 evaluation of the 2018 reform, and what lies ahead for the organisation.
The full conversation will be available on our YouTube channel soon. Our thanks to President Schmid and his team for their warm welcome.

𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗨 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲
Around 100 participants joined us in Valletta and online for this year’s conference. The discussions spanned cooperation with third countries, developments in electronic evidence, the role of the EPPO, defence rights and the influence of AI on criminal procedures. Emerging “e-crimes 3.0” also drew attention in a lively exchange guiding future work in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice.

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗨
In Brussels, ERA welcomed civil servants, legal practitioners, and transparency experts for a detailed analysis of the EU’s openness framework. The programme reviewed the Code of Conduct for MEPs, the Transparency Register, and how trilogues contribute to decision-making. Recent CJEU case law on access to documents prompted thoughtful debate on the challenges facing transparency across EU institutions.

𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿
Back home, Trier is turning festive as preparations conclude for the opening of the city’s 45th Christmas Market on 21 November. Nearly 90 stalls will fill the Hauptmarkt and Cathedral square with local crafts, seasonal favourites and the much-loved Moselle Winzer-Glühwein —all under the watch of Germany’s only Glühwein Queen.

𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱:
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗱-𝗼𝗳-𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀:
• Annual Conference on European Copyright Law (26–28 November, online)
• Annual Conference on European VAT Law (27–28 November, Trier & online)
• Sanctions in the EU’s External Relations (27–28 November, Trier & online)

We pushed to include a call for reform of EU public procurement rules: less bureaucracy, simpler procedures, stronger strategic procurement, boosting EU competitiveness & trade.

https://epp.group/vzzlieh7

🌐 Join us online in three exciting morning sessions to learn more about the ongoing EU initiatives and recent case law adopted by the CJEU in the field of copyright law.

✨ Dive into topics like the online use of press publications in the aftermath of the CDSM Directive, and in the light of pending decisions before the CJEU (Meta, Google/Sony Music/Spotify, Streamz and others)

🤖 Furthermore, learn about the transatlantic judicial decisions on fair use and Gen-AI, the copyright chapter of the General-Purpose AI Code of Practice, and the proposals of solutions of the MEP Voss’s report on how to move towards a safe and fair legal environment for copyright use by Gen-AI.

👩‍🏫👨‍🏫 We’re glad to welcome the following copyright experts:
• Emmanuelle Du Chalard, Copyright-Directorate General Communications Networks, Content & Technology, European Commission, Brussels

• Giancarlo Frosio, Professor, Chair in Intellectual Property & Technology Law, Director, Global Intellectual Property and Technology (G-IPTech) Centre, Queen's University Belfast

• Ula Furgał, Lecturer in Intellectual Property and Information Law, University of Glasgow

• Christophe Geiger, Director of the ILEO - Innovation Law and Ethics Observatory, Luiss Guido Carli University, Roma

• José Guimarães, Acting Executive Director, EMMA - European Magazine Media Association & ENPA Brussels - European Newspaper Publishers Association, Brussels

• Lise Guterstam Public Affairs Manager, Senior Legal Counsel, SAMI, Stockholm

• Thomas Höppner, Professor in Economic and Intellectual Property Law, Partner, GERADIN PARTNERS, Berlin

• Jan Jacobi, Attorney-at-law, Senior Associate, BarentsKrans, The Hague/Amsterdam

• João Pedro Quintais, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Amsterdam

• Nils Rauer, Partner, Head of German Intellectual Property, Pinsent Masons, Frankfurt

• Eleonora Rosati, Professor in Intellectual Property Law, Stockholm University

• Alain Strowel*, Professor, UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles, Munich Intellectual Property Law Center (MIPLC), University of Alicante, Senior Partner, PIERSTONE, Brussels

• Harrie Temmink*, Head of Service “Intellectual Property in the Digital World”, Observatory on Infringements of IP Rights, EUIPO - European Union Intellectual Property Office, Alicante


👉 For further information, please click here: https://www.era.int/cgi-bin/cms?_SID=a6396f5758dc0e61c576de797696674bb26862d301275053769090&_sprache=en&_bereich=artikel&_aktion=detail&idartikel=133252



*to be confirmed

To defend peace, we must act decisively.

Building a strong European Defence Union is key to safeguarding our future.

Let’s invest in our capabilities, boost cooperation, and protect Europe’s security.
Read: https://ow.ly/6TM750WiQQb

Dariusz Joński

WHY JUSTICE MUST BE CRITICIZED—AND HOW TO DO IT RESPONSIBLY

Justice is often portrayed as blind, impartial, and absolute. Yet justice—like the systems and people who deliver it—is ultimately a human construct. As such, it is not infallible. For a society to remain fair, democratic, and progressive, justice must not only be upheld—it must also be scrutinized. Criticizing justice is not an attack on its ideals but a necessary part of ensuring that those ideals are genuinely realized.

Too often, laws and legal decisions have perpetuated inequality under the guise of maintaining order. History is filled with examples: apartheid laws in South Africa, segregation in the United States, or the criminalization of homosexuality in numerous jurisdictions. Each of these was once justified as “just,” yet today we recognize them for what they truly were—abuses of the legal system against fundamental human rights. Such transformations in public consciousness were made possible through principled criticism, persistent advocacy, and courageous dissent.

Importantly, criticism of justice must not be equated with disrespect for the rule of law. On the contrary, constructive criticism is one of the strongest affirmations of a functioning legal order. In democratic societies, judicial institutions, lawmakers, and law enforcement are ultimately accountable to the public. That accountability can only be meaningful if citizens, lawyers, academics, and civil society feel empowered to voice concerns, challenge unjust laws, and demand reform.

However, how justice is criticized matters just as much as why it is criticized.

Effective criticism must be informed. It is not enough to express outrage without understanding the legal principles, procedural context, or constitutional framework behind a decision or law. Rhetoric must be matched by knowledge. Further, it must be respectful—even when firm. Criticizing a court ruling should not mean vilifying a judge; rather, it should focus on the reasoning, implications, or broader systemic issues. The goal is not to tear down institutions but to strengthen them by exposing their flaws and calling for accountability.

Responsible criticism should also be solution-oriented. Merely pointing out injustice is insufficient without offering pathways for reform. Whether it is through legal scholarship, legislative advocacy, peaceful protest, or public education, criticism should aim to build a better, more equitable legal system—not just decry the one we have.

Justice is not static. It must evolve with society, reflect new understandings of fairness, and respond to emerging challenges. But evolution requires pressure. Without criticism, unjust laws remain unchallenged. Without dissent, judicial errors go uncorrected. Without public scrutiny, legal institutions risk becoming instruments of the powerful rather than protectors of the powerless.

In the end, to criticize justice is to care about it deeply. It is an act of civic responsibility and moral courage. Let us not shy away from it—let us do it wisely.