Edinburgh Law School discusses EU law post Brexit at Brussels alumni event
Thu 13 June 2024
On 29 May 2024, Professors Jo Shaw, Salvesen Chair of European Institutions and Head of Edinburgh Law School, and Niamh Nic Shuibhne, Professor of European Union Law, led a discussion amongst alumni and friends in Brussels, Belgium that explored the question ‘Do the fundamentals of EU law still matter?’. The discussion was followed by a networking lunch on 30 May that allowed for alumni and friends to reflect on the discussion whilst making connections with colleagues working in varied fields.
The event held space for fruitful discussion on the role that Edinburgh Law School students and alumni can hold within EU law. About this, Professor Nic Shuibhne said: “We had a fascinating discussion about the continuing importance of studying the fundamentals of EU law, notwithstanding the expansion and the specialisation that we now see as EU law spreads into new areas and adapts to confront new challenges. The crucial importance of language skills for graduates who hope to work in European institutions was underlined, and we hope that we can find ways to support our students to begin language learning as early as possible so that they can realise their career aspirations. We were also heartened by the warm support we received as we work hard not only to sustain but also to develop the teaching, learning, and researching of the EU at Edinburgh Law School into the future.”
The time spent in Brussels also highlighted the Law School’s widespread alumni network and successes. Professor Shaw said: “Looking to the future, one key takeaway from the events we held in Brussels is the importance that alumni attach to keeping in touch with both each other and with us. They want to continue learning and to find out more about the communities of Edinburgh alumni around them. For our LLM alumni, Brussels is a unique space for working, networking and learning, a space to which many will be drawn at different points of their career.”
Regarding the Law School’s plan on organising future events akin to this one, Professor Shaw added: “Our plan is to intensify our work to provide the engagement and the networking opportunities our LLM alumni in particular are asking for. At the same time, we will build and maintain our excellent connections with LLB graduates, working in the European institutions and elsewhere in Brussels. If we have achieved one thing, it is to help to bring these different groups closer together.”
Thank you to Mr Colin Brown for moderating the event, Scotland House (Brussels) for hosting, and everyone else who made the Law School's time in Brussels such a success. If you would like to inquire into the possibility of hosting an alumni event in your area, please email law.alumni@ed.ac.uk.