The European Criminal Law Academic Network (ECLAN) and the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Law are pleased to announce the ECLAN Annual Conference 2026, entitled “The Right to an Effective Remedy in Supranational and National Criminal Justice Systems”, to be held in Zagreb on 17 and 18 December 2026.
The conference is organised within the framework of the institutional research project “Modernization of the Appeals Procedure in Criminal Matters in Croatia: A Reform Proposal Based on Comparative Legal and Empirical Research”, conducted at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Law.
Conference Theme
The right to an effective remedy is a fundamental component of the protection of individual rights and the proper administration of criminal justice. Its significance extends across national, European and international legal orders and raises important questions concerning the availability, accessibility, scope and effectiveness of mechanisms for reviewing decisions and remedying violations of rights in criminal proceedings.
Against the background of the increasing interaction between national and supranational criminal justice systems, the conference aims to explore how the right to an effective remedy is conceptualised, guaranteed and implemented across different legal orders. It will bring together scholars and practitioners to examine the normative foundations and practical operation of remedies in criminal matters from European, international, national and comparative perspectives.
Particular attention will be devoted to the relationship between supranational standards and national systems of legal remedies, the functioning and possible reform of appellate procedures in criminal matters, and the challenges arising in specific areas of contemporary criminal justice.
Thematic Areas
Contributions are invited particularly, but not exclusively, in the following thematic areas:
- The Right to an Effective Remedy in EU Criminal Law
- The Right to an Effective Remedy under the European Convention on Human Rights
- The Right to an Effective Remedy in International Criminal Law and International Criminal Justice
- The Right to an Effective Remedy in International Legal Assistance and Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters
- The Right to an Effective Remedy in National Criminal Justice Systems
- The Interaction between Supranational Standards and National Systems of Remedies in Criminal Matters
- The Right to an Effective Remedy in Specific Areas of Criminal Justice and Emerging Challenges
The above list is indicative rather than exhaustive. Proposals addressing other aspects of the right to an effective remedy in criminal justice are welcome, provided that they fall within the general theme of the conference.
Within the indicated thematic areas, contributors may wish to consider, inter alia, the following issues:
- The role of appellate courts in ensuring consistency of case law
- Scope of review of factual findings in appellate proceedings
- Taking of evidence before the appellate court
- Cassatory versus reformative powers of the appellate court
- Filtering of appeals and access to the appellate court
- Scope of appellate review – party disposition versus ex officio review
- New facts and new evidence on appeal
- Orality of appellate proceedings and the right to participate in person
- Organization of appellate court system
- Right to appeal against interim decisions
Submission Guidelines
Scholars and practitioners are invited to submit proposals for presentations at the conference.
Proposals should include:
- the title of the proposed presentation;
- an abstract of 300–500 words, clearly indicating the subject matter, main research question(s), methodology or approach, and principal argument of the proposed contribution;
- the name, institutional affiliation and contact details of the author(s); and
- a short biographical note.
Proposals should be submitted in English by 15 October 2026 to:
ECLANannualconference2026@gmail.com
Applicants will be informed of the outcome of the selection process by 30 October 2026.
Proposals will be selected on the basis of their academic quality, relevance to the theme of the conference, originality and contribution to the overall coherence and diversity of the conference programme.
Travel and Accommodation
Funding is available to cover travel and accommodation expenses for up to 12 participants whose proposals are selected for presentation at the conference.
For those participants, the organisers will cover:
- travel expenses of up to EUR 500 per participant; and
- accommodation expenses of up to EUR 300 per participant.
Funding is linked to active participation in the conference through the presentation of an accepted presentation. Further information concerning eligible expenses, reimbursement procedures and practical arrangements will be provided to selected participants.
Venue and Conference Programme
The ECLAN Annual Conference 2026 will take place at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Law, Zagreb, Croatia, on 17 and 18 December 2026.
The detailed programme, including the organisation of panels and the schedule of presentations, will be communicated following the selection of participants.
Organisation
European Criminal Law Academic Network (ECLAN)
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Law
The conference is organised within the framework of the institutional research project:
“Modernization of the Appeals Procedure in Criminal Matters in Croatia: A Reform Proposal Based on Comparative Legal and Empirical Research.”