This year’s conference featured not only a rich and engaging programme, but also marked a moment of transition in leadership.
After four years of dedicated service, Ana Romero stepped down as President and passed the baton to Liam Moloney, who was elected in the General Board meeting as PEOPIL’s new President.

The newly formed Executive Board now includes:

• Cheryl Palmer-Hughes (Vice-President)
• Stefano Dangel (Secretary)
• Sylwia Myśliwska (Treasurer)
• Aurélie van Dijk (Revitalisation Officer)

The conference officially kicked off with a lively welcome drinks reception at Plein Publiek, a unique venue located in the heart of Brussels.

Day 1: Insightful Discussions and Thought-Provoking Panels

Friday began with a moving farewell address from Ana Romero and a warm welcome by Frank Judo, Dean of the Flemish Bar Association.

The morning session, chaired by Joakim Jäderström, opened with Prof. Jean-Marc Binon — former Legal Secretary at the CJEU and Professor at the University of Louvain — who delivered a comprehensive update on recent case law from the Court of Justice of the European Union.

This was followed by an engaging panel featuring Natalia Astigarraga Bronte, Tzvi Brivik, Liam Moloney, and Giulia Oberto, discussing challenges to access to justice in Spain, South Africa, Ireland, and Italy. A shared theme emerged: the many barriers victims face in pursuing claims.

Next, Prof. Dr. Angela Maas (Heart for Women, Netherlands) and Marijke Weewauters (Belgian Institute of Gender Equality) offered compelling insights into gender inequality in medical science and how this disparity plays out in litigation.

The afternoon session, chaired by Sarah Crowther KC (Outer Temple Chambers), began with a forward-looking presentation by Adam Morawski on The AI Act: Future Impact on Rights and Access to Justice.

This was followed by a powerful panel discussion titled Navigating Barriers to Justice in Today’s Political Climate, featuring Linda Lipsen, Bruce Plaxen, and Christopher Deacon.

Further panels explored:

• The impact of the EU Motor Insurance Directive on newer EU member states, with Ruder Anic, Loucia Astreou, and Dr. Tibor Pataky
• Denial of access to justice and barriers to fair compensation, discussed by Marco Bona, Martin Hablützel, and Mark Harvey

The NLG Committee also gave a concise but impactful update on their current work and announced the next conference in Bucharest – be sure to mark your calendar or encourage junior colleagues to attend.

The day concluded in true PEOPIL style with the traditional Annual Fun Run, where members showed their team spirit in signature blue t-shirts.

Day 2: Comparative Perspectives and Closing Reflections

Saturday’s sessions were moderated by Mirella Hartman and continued the trend of insightful discussion. Panels included:

• Claims Against Public Bodies: A Comparative Look at Legal Approaches, with Ana Romero, Alice Kubu Frybova, Silvio Riesen, and Solenn Le Tutour
• Personal Injury Litigation Against Short-Term Rental Platforms and Home Swap Companies, featuring Katherine Deal KC, Thomas Scolaro, and Gerrit Nagel
• Empowering Vulnerable Individuals Through Different Legal Systems, with Joanne Brine, Kader Çelik, and Sylwia Myśliwska

A heartfelt thank you to our generous sponsors: 12 King’s Bench Walk, 3 Hare Court, Deka Chambers, Farrar’s Building, Irwin Mitchell, Outer Temple Chambers, and HBSV Advocaten, as well to the members of the programme committee Peter De Maeyer, Ana Romero, Phil Mead, and Sylwia Myśliwska – whose efforts made this remarkable conference possible.