In Europe today, many of the most sensitive social and cultural debates are being decided in the courtroom rather than in parliament. From family law and gender identity to media regulation and freedom of expression, national courts and the Court of Justice of the European Union are increasingly shaping how EU law is interpreted and applied. Landmark rulings on cross-border recognition of same-sex marriages, gender identity, and official language use highlight the growing influence of judicial decisions on everyday life. 

This high-level panel brings together judges, legal scholars, and policy experts to examine how courts are navigating these complex value conflicts, the legal arguments behind pivotal rulings, and the broader implications for national legal systems and the EU. The discussion will explore the balance between judicial interpretation and national legal traditions, illustrating the evolving role of courts as key drivers in Europe’s legal landscape. 

* The event will be held in English. 

Program: 

09:30 – Opening Remarks

  • Zoltán Szalai, Director General of Mathias Corvinus Collegium
  • András Zs. Varga, President of the Curia, Professor at Pázmány Péter Catholic University

09:45 – Panel Discussion: Courts at the Forefront of Europe’s Value Conflicts

  • Martin Mendelski, Researcher at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas
  • András Osztovits, Professor and Head of the EU Law Department at the Károli Gáspár University
  • András Tóth, President of the Central European Lawyers Initiative, Associate Professor and Head of the Digital and Technology Law Department at the Károli Gáspár University
  • Rodrigo Ballester, Head of the Centre for European Studies, Mathias Corvinus Collegium
  • Moderator: Yann Caspar, Researcher of the Centre for European Studies, Mathias Corvinus Collegium

11:15 – Closing Remarks

  • János Bóka, Minister for European Union Affairs of Hungary 

 

The event is open to the public and press, but prior registration is required: https://mcc.hu/en/event-registration/2026-02-27-courts-at-the-forefront-of-europes-value-conflicts