CALL FOR PAPERS: Interdisciplinary Conference 'EU Criminal Justice Policy and Practice - Reflections and Prospects'

Conference theme As ten years have elapsed since the adoption of the current legal framework, the time is ripe to evaluate the EU's initiatives in the field of EU criminal law and to discuss the challenges ahead.

One question is whether the concerns relating to 'competence creep' and 'repressive' EU criminal policy have been realized. In this regard, it must be particularly examined to what extent the EU legislator has kept itself within the limits of its powers under the Treaties when legislating under Article 83 TFEU. It is also necessary to consider what characterizes the EU's new criminal policy. What is the strategic focus and what are the driving forces behind the EU legislator's criminal law initiatives? Has the Commission been able to live up to its 'Communication' in 2011 to produce more evidence-based legislation?

In this regard, scholars also need to reflect on what works and what doesn’t in criminalisation and punishment and how (empirical) research in this area should influence EU legislation in the field of criminal law. Is criminal law an effective tool for dealing with violations of the Union's substantive policies? And, what should be the consequences if adopted legislation in this field turns out not to be effective? Finally, it is appropriate to consider the effects of EU criminal law in the national legal orders. Has the enactment of EU criminal law directives led to more criminalization and more repression, as was predicted by scholars? How do the Member States’ criminal justice systems cope with the new initiatives?

In this regard, it is particularly important to consider whether the EU's criminal law initiatives have been able to foster compliance and deter individuals from engaging in illegal activities as envisaged by the European Commission. The question of the EU's criminal policy is too important to be confined to debates within the field of EU lawyers and criminal lawyers. EU lawyers and criminal lawyers have to a large extent focused on giving a precise account of the dynamic evolution of EU criminal law and reflecting on the constraints that should be imposed on supra-national interventions. Criminologists and political scientists are only just beginning to direct their attention to the rapidly changing EU criminal policy. Criminological research can shed light on the effectiveness of EU criminal policy whilst political scientists can provide insights into the driving forces behind the EU’s current criminalization efforts.

Moreover, legal philosophers can give their verdict on the normative justifications for criminal law and criminalisation. EU lawyers and criminal lawyers may in their turn reflect on how the lessons from political science, criminology and philosophy are used (or not) when legislation is adopted at the EU level and how these lessons should be used to construct an appropriate EU criminal policy. Cross-pollination between different disciplines is likely to give a more advanced understanding of the developments of EU criminal policy and the moral, empirical or constitutional limits to this development.

Therefore, this conference will bring together lawyers interested in EU law and criminal law, criminologists, political scientists, and philosophers to jointly reflect on the development of the EU's criminal policy. Paper proposals We welcome proposals for papers falling within the scope of one of the themes below. It is expressly encouraged if these topics are approached from various areas of law (EU law, criminal law) and various disciplines (criminology, sociology, political science)! Also, proposals may concern general EU criminal law and policy, but may also focus on a specific area of crime. 1. Criminal policy, objectives and criminalization principles 2. The role of the European Parliament, the Council, national parliaments and the Court of Justice 3. Effectiveness of EU criminal law 4. Evidence-based legislation in the field of EU substantive criminal law 5. Constitutional limits to EU criminalization 6. EU sanction levels Paper proposals (maximum one page) need to be submitted by 1 February 2017 at the latest to Judit Altena (j.g.h.altena@law.leidenuniv.nl).

Please indicate under which of the six themes you would like to present and please include your contact details. Submitted paper abstracts will be reviewed by the conference committee. You will be notified of acceptance by 1 March 2017 at the latest. Presentations Accepted abstracts will be placed in a panel of contributions with a common theme and will be chaired by a discussant. A panel session consists of three or four presenters. Panel sessions will last approximately 90 minutes, so participants will be granted no more than 20 minutes to present their papers followed by comments by the discussant and a general discussion.

Organisation and contact The conference committee consists of Jannemieke Ouwerkerk (Leiden University), Jacob Öberg (Örebro University), Samuli Miettinen (Tallinn University), Annika Suominen (University of Bergen), and Judit Altena (Leiden University). Questions concerning practical arrangements should be addressed to: Judit Altena (j.g.h.altena@law.leidenuniv.nl)