Functions
The Institute shall carry out the following tasks in order to further improve the quality of domestic legislation, increase its international standing and reputation, examine the legislation’s enter into force, support domestic legal research and education, and promote international legal relationships and cooperation:
Carries out comparative international legal researches
in order to develop jurisprudence and it develops proposals for domestic legislation.
Advancing legal science
through research, analyses and publishing activities
Organizes scientific conferences
and other professional events.
Collaborates with similar research institutes and scientific workshops
and has extensive international relations.
The Central European Professors’ Network
initiated and coordinated by the MFI, was established to achieve a closely cooperating international professional network in the comparative law field.
Prepares policy analyses
and publishes successful exemplary legislative solutions.
Contributes
to the tasks of the Minister of Justice
Within the framework of the MFI Internship Programme,
doctoral students studying in the field of comparative law can apply for our internship program to participate.
The Central European Journal of Comparative Law and its issues, published by the Institute, can be viewed here.
NEWS

Constitutional framework for the protection of future generations and the environment in the regulation and jurisdiction of certain Central European countries
A conference presenting the work of the research group “Constitutional protection of the environment and future generations“, led by Prof. Dr. János Ede Szilágyi, head of the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law, will be held on 26 May, starting at 10 AM.
Format of the event: International Scientific Conference
Venue: Pázmány Péter Catholic University (PPKE) Faculty of Law, Pope John Paul II Hall (Ceremonial Hall)
(Budapest, Szentkirályi u. 28, 1088)
Date of the event: 26 May 2022
Language of the event: English
For further details please click here.

The Oxford Debate 2022
Format of the event: webinar debate
Venue: Zoom platform
Date of the event: 20 May 2022 from 10:00 to 13:00
Language of the event: English
The Institute for Justice in Warsaw in partnership with the Academic Circle of Criminal Procedure at the Faculty of Law and Administration of Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw and the Miskolc University – Central European Academy has the honor and pleasure to invite you to participate in the Oxford Debate: “Right to Privacy”.
For further details of the event please click here.

International Scientific Conference
“The Right to Privacy – View of Young Researchers”
Format of the event: webinar
Venue: Zoom platform
Date of the event: May 16, 2022 from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm
Language of the event: English
The event is organized as part of the Central European Professors Network, coordinated by the University of Miskolc – Central European Academy.
For further details of the webinar please click here.

On 7 May 2022 a memorial conference was held in Rimaszombat commemorating the meeeting of Ferenc Mádl, then President of Hungary and Rudolf Schuster, then President of Slovakia, with Géza Erdélyi, former bishop of the Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia, in the Reformed parsonage of Rimaszombat on 19 October 2001.
The memorial conference was co-organized by the Ferenc Mádl Memorial Committee, the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law, the Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia and the Reformed Parish of Rimaszombat among representatives of public law, science and church life.
Photo: László Szarvas

Legal Regulation of Cross-Border Acquisition of Agricultural Lands in Certain Central European Countries
Format of the event: webinar
Venue: MS Teams platform
Date of the event: 06 May 2022
Language of the event: English
For further details of the conference please click here.

Sustainable Finance in European Jurisdictions
Format of the event: hybrid (in-person and Zoom platform)
Venue: Hungarian Academy of Sciences – Budapest
Date of the event: 29-30 April 2022
Language of the event: English
The necessary path to a carbon-free economy will only be achievable with a fundamental transformation of essential sectors. Above all, there is a need to channel private capital into sustainable enterprises. The acceptance of this epoch-making project depends on the coherence of the legal framework to be created.
For further details of the conference plese click here.

Constitutional regulation of financial law in central and eastern europe
Format of the event: webinar
Venue: MS Teams
Date of the event: 28 April 2022
Language of the event: English
The webinar is organized by the Central-European Association for Comparative Law in cooperation with the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law, Faculty of Law of the University of Miskolc and Central European Academy.
For further details of the webinar please click here.

International Public Law from a Central European Perspective
Format of the event: In-person
Venue: Hungarian Academy of Sciences – Budapest
Date of the event: 22 April 2022
Language of the event: English
For further details please click here.

Accepting the invitation of the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law, and the Central European Academy of the University of Miskolc Dr. Vladan Petrov, full professor in Department of Constitutional Law and Parliamentary Law of the University of Belgrade; judge of the Constitutional Court of Serbia, Member of the Venice Commission for Serbia, gave a lecture for those interested, on 05 April 2022 in the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law.
In his morning presentation he addressed the Constitutional amendments – the case of Serbia and in his afternoon lecture he discussed about The latest change in the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus and the role of the Venice Commission.

March 23 was established as the Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day. The declaration on its establishment was adopted in 2007 by decision of all members of the Hungarian Parliament and four days later the Polish Parliament also adopted the declaration by public acclamation.
The resolution was adopted in view of its historical roots, through the common features of Hungarian and Polish history, the many centuries of close friendship between the two peoples, and their cooperation on several levels and in several forums.
Even today, Polish-Hungarian friendship has many manifestations in both Poland and Hungary.
This friendship has an extraordinary dimension for the Ferenc Mádl Institute as well, which is manifested in several joint prestigious research projects: the Polish-Hungarian Research Platform and the Central European Professors’ Network.

Lecture of the Polish Supreme Court’s spokesman on the current challenges of public law in Central Europe
Accepting the invitation of Central European Academy of the University of Miskolc, and the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law Aleksander Stępkowski, professor at the University of Warsaw, former President, current spokesman of the Polish Supreme Court, gave a lecture for those interested, on 18 March 2022 in the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law.
In his morning presentation he addressed the Axiology and Law and in his afternoon lecture he discussed about the human rights.

800 Years of the Hungarian Golden Bull:
The Golden Bull in Context
Format of the event: in-person
Venue: Hungarian Academy of Sciences – Budapest
Date of the event: 31 March 2022
Language of the event: English
On the 800th anniversary of the Golden Bull of 1222 issued by Andrew II of Hungary the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law organizes an international symposium which brings together legal historians from all over Europe to celebrate the rich history of the continent and to remember the main medieval edicts regarding rights and freedoms.
For further details please click here.
Photo: A copy of the Golden Bull in the Archbishop’s Palace in Esztergom
(Source: Attila Kovács/MTI)

Diaspora Policies in the 21st Century –
New Answers for New Challenges
Format of the event: in-person
Venue: Hungarian Academy of Sciences – Budapest
Date of the event: 28 – 29 March 2022
Language of the event: English
For further details please click here.

MUNLAWS 2022 Conference
Format of the event: in-person
Venue: Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana.
Date of the event: between 11 and 13 November 2022
Language of the event: English
The MUNLawS is the largest university-level conference in Slovenia. This three-day event is aimed at university, secondary school students, and young professionals. It takes place each year in Autumn at the Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.
The conference is aimed at high school and university students, as well as young professionals from all around the world.
The simulation of the European Council is organised as part of the Central European Professors’ Network, coordinated by the University of Miskolc – Central European Academy and the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law.

COFOLA conference
EU Green Policy – Law, Finance and Innovation
Format of the event: Online or in-person
Date of the event: 24 April 2022
Language of the event: English
Venue: MS Teams
The conference “COFOLA = Conference for Young Lawyers” is annually organized by the Faculty of Law, Masaryk University, from 2007.
The main aim of this conference is to give the floor to the doctoral students and young scientists at the early stage of their career and enable them to present the results of their scientific activities.
Several sections of the COFOLA conference will be held in English. Specifically:
“EU Green Policy – Law, Finance and Innovation”
This section is organized by the Faculty of Law, Masaryk University, as part of the Central European Professors’ Network, coordinated by the University of Miskolc – Central European Academy and the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law.

Call for presentations
International Conference for PhD students
about
’Current Challenges of Environmental Law from a Human Rights Perspective’
The presenters of the conference will have the opportunity to publish in the peer-reviewed paper called ’Studia Iurisprudentiae Doctorandorum Miskolciensium’.
Date of the conference: 7th April 2022
Application deadline: 10th March 2022
For further details of the conference please click here.

“Children rights – Family values – Parental custody”
The Central European Academy pleased to inform you that you are cordially invited to attend and participate the International Webinar Conference For Doctoral Students forum which offers unique opportunities to share your ideas. Transform your research and best practices into a presentation on “Children rights – Family values – Parental custody” and be one of the shapers of the webinar event!
Format of the event: Webinar
Date of the event: 25 March 2022
Application deadline: 13 March 2022
Language of the event: English
The application form can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/familyprotconf
If you need more details about this programme, please contact us at familyprotectionv4@gmail.com

Constitutional Values
Format of the event: Webinar
Date of the event: 24 February 2022
Language of the event: English
Venue: Teams Meeting
In the framework of this international scientific webinar the lecturers will give presentations regarding their article published in the Central European Journal of Comparative Law. The issues concerned in the course of this webinar will be primarly the christian values and fundamental rights in the constitutions of the states examined.
For further details of the webinar please click here.

International Investment Law and EU Law: Dialogue or Confrontation?
Format of the event: Webinar
Date of the event: 27 January 2022
Language of the event: English
Venue: Budapest (Hungary)
This webinar brings together academics and practitioners to discuss some of the questions concerning the relationship between the law of the European Union and international investment law and arbitration.
For further details of the webinar please click here.

The Development of Integration Theories in
East Central Europe
Format of the event: Webinar
Date of the event: 14 January 2022
Language of the event: English
Venue: University of Miskolc (Hungary)
The detailed programme of the webinar available here.
The Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law kindly informs comparative law enthusiasts and all interested readers, including both the representatives of legal academia and legal practitioners, that within the framework of the Central European Professors’ Network, a new English-language and Central Europe-focused book has been published on four different issues:
• Family protection from a legal perspective,
• The impact of digital platforms and social media on the freedom of expression and pluralism,
• Religious symbols in the public sphere,
• Constitutional reasoning and constitutional interpretation.





The Law of the Future – The Future of Law
We cordially invite you to the 2nd year of the international scientific conference “The Law of the Future – The Future of Law”, which will take place online on 16 December 2021 under the auspices of the Faculty of Law of the Pan-European University in Bratislava in collaboration with the Central European Professors’ Network.
Format of the event: Online
Date of the event: 16 December 2021
Language of the event: English
Researcher: JUDr. PhDr. Lilla Garayova, PhD.
Venue: Pan-European University (Bratislava)
For further details of the conference please click here

Social Media, Democracy and Freedom of Expression
Place of the event: Faculty of Humanities, Charles University
Format of the event: Conference
Date of the event: 14 December 2021
Language of the event: Czech
The conference was organized within the framework of the Central European Professors´ Network coordinated by the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law. The conference was held on 14 December 2021, at the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University in Prague.
For the details please click here

Roundtable discussion on family protection
Date of the event: 9 December 2021
Language of the event: Hungarian
Venue: Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law
Participants of the discussion:
- Barzó Tímea full professor, head of the research group, moderator;
- Kovács József full professor, psychologist, bioethical specialist;
- Kőrös András lawyer in family law, retired judge of the Curia;
- Lenkovics Barnabás, professor emeritus, former head of the Constitutional Court;
- Molnár Balázs, Vice President of the Maria Kopp Institute.
For further details of the discussion please click here.

Pandemic, State, and the Rule of Law
Format of the event: Online
Date of the event: 9 December 2021
Language of the event: Slovenian
Researcher: Assoc. prof. Dr. Benjamin Flander
Venue: University of Maribor (Slovenia)
For further details of the conference please click here

(Legal) Issues Concerning the Content Moderation on Social Networks
“Social networks are changing the world. They have radically altered the way their users connect and communicate with each other, as well as the way they access and exchange information. These transformations are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, social networks play an important role in connecting (formerly) socially isolated individuals, offer the possibility of obtaining direct information about otherwise overlooked events (e.g., human rights violations in conflict areas) and enable networking of activist groups organizing demonstrations, charity events and awareness-raising for a wide variety of societal issues.”
The non-scientific dissemination article was published on 7 December 2021 in TFL Glasnik (a weekly publication for professional and academic lawyers).

Conference on the future of Europe
Dialogue on the Future of Europe: Is enlargement a key to the future?
The Ministry of Justice and the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law are organising a high-profile international conference on 21 June 2021 in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe.
The conference consists of two thematic panel discussions.
Amongst other experts, our first panel “Credible enlargement perspectives for a stronger Europe”, will be featuring Judit Varga Minister of Justice (HU) and Péter Szijjártó Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary (HU).
The second panel discussion will focus on “Historical, political and legal arguments for the enlargement ” featuring speakers primarily from the academic sphere.

COFOLA 2021
(Conference for Young Lawyers)
Cohabitation in European Context
Title of the event: Europeanisation of Family Law or Convergence and divergence of family law in Europe
Place of the event: Brno, Faculty of Law
Format of the event: workshop
Date of the event: 3 December 2021
Language of the event: English
For further details please click here
The video of the event can be viewed here.

Daily magazine broadcasted on Radio Belgrade 1,
Radio Television of Serbia (RTS)
The daily magazine is a radio show focusing on current events and news from Serbia and the world. It is open for different topics – economy, politics, ecology, law, health, culture, music and sports. The Radio Magazine promotes young scientists, talents, successful business people and features interesting travel stories and reports. Professor Dalibor Đukić from the Faculty of Law at the University of Belgrade was invited to the magazine on the occasion of a conference in Budapest on 26th November 2021.
The host informed the audience about the Hungarian Government’s initiative to establish the Central European Professors’ Network, coordinated by the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law.
For further details of the conference please click here

Legal Reasoning and Judicial Reasoning of the CJEU, Czech CC and ECtHR
Format of the event: Online ̶ Zoom platform
Date of the event: 18 November 2021
Language of the event: English
Researcher: Dr. David Sehnálek
For more details of the event please click here.

Religious diversity
Type of the event: Webinar
Researcher: Dr. Lóránt Csink
Date of the event: 02 December 2021, 2 pm
Venue: Teams platform
Language of the event: English
Religious diversity is a topical issue across Europe. The lecture focused on the role of religion in societies, the advantages, and disadvantages of diversity, and ask how (secular) society should relate to religion.
For further details of the conference please click here.

The Impact of Digital Platforms and Social Media on Freedom of Expression and Pluralism
Type of the event: International Scientific Conference for post graduated students
Date of the event: 17 November 2021, 15:30 – 19:00
Venue: Online – Webex Meeting
Language of the event: English
For further details of the conference please click here

The Genesis of Linking Limitation on the Internet
On 15 November 2021 an online speech entitled „The Genesis of Linking Limitation on the Internet” presented by Bartłomiej Oręziak was published. It was organized within the framework of the Central European Professors’ Network 2021, in cooperation with the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law, the European Association for Comparative Law and the Institute of Justice in Warsaw.
The online speech was organized as a dissemination event of Bartłomiej Oręziak, a member of the research group titled “The Impact of Digital Platforms and Social Media on Freedom of Expression and Pluralism.”.

The Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law, its management and employers were painfully informed of the decease of Dalma Mádl, the widow of Ferenc Mádl, the former President of Hungary and the namesake of our Institute.
Her memory will stay with us along with that of Ferenc Mádl.
A study of the life and work of Professor Mádl, late President of Hungary, namesake of the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law is available here (Ferenc Mádl, the Hungarian Professor of European Law, written by Endre Domaniczky).
It has been published in the Hungarian Yearbook of International Law and European Law (Vol. 9.)

The case law of the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Justice with regard to the East-Central European countries
Type of the event: International Scientific Conference
Date of the event: 30 November 2021, 10:00-17:00
Venue: Constitutional Court of Hungary
Language of the event: English
For further details of the conference please click here

Manifestation of religious beliefs in the public sphere
Type of the event: International Scientific Conference
Date of the event: 26 November 2021, 09:30-16:00
Venue: Ministry of Justice (Hungary)
Language of the event: English
For further details of the conference please click here

The impact of digital platforms and social media on freedom of expression and pluralism –
in specific terms
Type of the event: International Scientific Conference
Date of the event: 23 November 2021, 10:00-16:00
Venue: Budapest Bar Association
Language of the event: English
For further details of the conference please click here

Local and national characteristics of family protection in Central Europe
Type of the event: International Scientific Conference
Date of the event: 19 November 2021, 09:30-16:00
Venue: Budapest Bar Association
Language of the event: English
For further details of the conference please click here

Actual Topics of State Ecclesiastical Law
Format of the event: MS Teams -Online
Date of the event: 16 November 2021
Language of the event: English
Researcher: Damián Němec
Venue: Faculty of Law of Trnavas University (Slovakia)
For further details of the conference please click here

The impact of digital platforms and social media on freedom of expression and pluralism
Type of the event: Webinar debate
Date of the event: 09 November 2021
Venue: Webex platform
Language of the event: English
The webinar entitled “Debate: The impact of digital platforms and social media on freedom of expression and pluralism” was dedicated to the analysis of the European approach to online comments and defamation. A defamatory statement is a false or untrue statement of fact that harms the reputation of a living person. In the digital environment, defamatory content can be easily shared and may remain available online for a very long period of time. During the webinar…

Foster care and adoption
Format of the event: Lecture for students of Pedagogy of the Faculty of Educational Studies at AMU (WNS UAM)
Date of the event: 27 October 2021
Language of the event: Polish
Researcher: Prof. INP PAN Marek Andrzejewski
Venue: Main Hall of the Faculty of Educational Studies of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan
For summary details of the conference please click here

Methodological issues in human rights/fundamental rights jurisprudence
Discussion of Presidents
Tamás Sulyok, President of the Constitutional Court of Hungary and
Péter Paczolay, former President of the Constitutional Court of Hungary and Judge of the European Court of Human Rights.
(The debate will be moderated by Zoltán J. Tóth)
Type of the event: Debate
Date of the event: 27 October 2021, 10:00-11:30
Venue: Constitutional Court of Hungary
Language of the event: Hungarian
For further details please click here

Religion and State in Slovenia with special regard to religious education and use of religious symbols in the public sphere
Date of the event: 20 October 2021
Place of the event: Online lecture, Slovenia
Format of the event: Webinar
Language of the event: English
For further details please click here

Marriage, Cohabitation and same-sex partnerships in Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia
Type of the event: Joint Advanced Students Webinar Seminar
Coordinators: Prof. dr. Suzana Kraljić (Maribor), Prof. dr. Gordana Kovaček Stanić (Novi Sad), Prof. dr. Aleksandra Graovac Korać (Zagreb), Katja Drnovšek (Maribor)
Date of the event: 19 October 2021
Venue: Teams platform
Language of the event: English
For further details of the conference please click here.

Freedom of conscience and religion in Europe
Title of the event: Actual Questions of State Religious Law
Date of the event: 29 October 2021, 14:00
Place of the event: Bratislava, online (MS Teams)
Format of the event: Webinar
Language of the event: The event will include a discussion part/Slovak and Czech language
For further details please click here

Laudato TV interview about
the Central European Professors’ Network
The TV interview was about the Central European Professors’ Network with prof.dr.sc. Davor Derenčinović, “Izdvojeno”.
Introduction to the Central European Professors’ Network. Information about its activities and deliverables in general, and in particularly regarding the research focus “The impact of digital platforms and social media on freedom of expression and pluralism.” The discussion was focused on the following issues…

The impact of digital platforms and social media on freedom of expression and pluralism
Title of the event: Expert panel “Legal system against disinformation”
Place of the event: Krynica-Zdrój
Format of the event: CyberSec Cities and Regions international forum 2021
Date of the event: 01 September 2021-03 September 2021
Language of the event: Polish
For further details please click here

The influence of attitude of the ECtHR on the practice of the Constitutional Court of Serbia (and CC in the region) in the matter of human rights – a critical analysis through case studies
Place of the event: Serbia, Faculty of law University of Novi Sad
Format of the event: Webinar
Date of the event: 07 October 2021
Language of the event: English (facultative: Serbian)
Researcher/Moderator: Orlović Slobodan
For more details of the event please click here
VI. Transylvanian Congress of Lawyers, Târgu Mures
The Transylvanian Congress of Lawyers was organised for the sixth time supported by The Ministry of Justice (Hungary), the Forum luris Association – Forum luris Publishing and Dr. Lupán Ernő Foundation, jointly managed by the Sapientia EMTE Faculty of Law of Cluj-Napoca, the Collegium Iuridicum and the Association of Hungarian Lawyers of Transylvania.

The aspect of the Hungarian- Transylvanian lawyer society the event is of paramount importance, which was postponed several times due to the pandemic time, took place between 10-12 September 2021 in Târgu Mures.
Representing the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law Dr. Emőd Veress (Head of the Private Law Research Department, Professor of Sapientia EMTE) gave lectures entitled “Changes and Tendencies in Romanian Company Law” and Dr. József Zoltán Fazakas (Head of the Department of Science and Research Network Management) entitled ‘Practical side of law’ held lectures on section meetings.
Dr. Zsolt Fegyveresi and Bálint Kovács researchers from the Department of Private Law Research also attended the scientific meeting on behalf of our institute.
Among others the event was honored by the presence and presentation of Professor Dr. Erzsébet Sándor the Deputy Ombudsman for the protection of the fundamental rights of nationalities living in Hungary.
The Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law launched its internship program on 1 September 2021 which welcomed students starting their doctoral studies from Central and Eastern European countries.

A total of seven students start their internships in the international program, who are members of the English-language “Central European Comparative Law” doctoral program organized by the Ferenc Deák Doctoral School of the Faculty of Law of the University of Miskolc in parallel with the work of the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law.
The students visited the campus of the University of Miskolc, where they were welcomed by Prof. Dr. Erika Róth, Head of the Doctoral School of the Faculty of Law, and Prof. Dr. János Ede Szilágyi, Head of the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law.
Our institute and the University wishes you with the traditional greeting of the University of Miskolc “Good luck!”, trusting the successful studies and professional development and hope that their work in line with the goals of the program will help to deepen the professional cooperation in Central Europe!

“Children’s rights vs. Parental Responsibility” International Doctoral Conference
Place of the event: online
Format of the event: webinar via Google Meet
Date of the event: 11 October 2021
Language of the event: English
An international doctoral conference with the title „Children’s Rights vs. Parental Responsibility” was organized on the 11st of October 2021. The webinar was organized by the Central European Professors’ Network coordinated by the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law (Hungary, Budapest); by the University of Miskolc, Faculty of Law, Institution of Private Law, Department of Civil Law; by the Hungarian Scientific Academy Miskolc Regional Committee of the Private Law Scientific Working Committee; and by the Central-European Comparative Law Association.
For further details of the webinar conference please click here.

Report from the CYBERSEC CEE Regions &
Cities 2021 conference
On 1-3 September 2021, the prestigious CYBERSEC CEE Regions & Cities 2021 Forum took place in Krynica Zdrój. As part of the 3-day conference, 25 panels and lectures were held, 4 thematic paths were chosen and 60 world experiments were carried out. The conference is leading in Europe, it is a forum for discussing new technologies and ways of managing them, establishing partnerships, and shaping cybersecurity policy. The theme of the event in 2021 was the slogan Towards a Values-Based Digital World.
For further details of the conference please click here.

The 4th Krasiczyn Summer University was held on 23-27 August 2021 organised by the Wacław Felczak Polish-Hungarian Cooperation Institute. On behalf of the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law, Dr Noémi Suri, researcher of the Department of Private Law, and Dr József Zoltán Fazakas, Head of the Department of Science Organization took part in the event.
In addition to the forward-looking professional dialogues and lectures, not only the work and structure of the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law was presented but also the possibilities of cooperation between the two institutions.
The participants also paid tribute in a joint commemoration at the Przemyśl military cemetery in memory of the Polish and Hungarian victims of World War I.

Protection of human values in private law in the context of modern trends and the ongoing recodification of private law – Family Law Conference
The Civic Association of Private Law in cooperation with the Faculty of Law of the Pavol Jozef Šafárik University organized the annual conference of private law titled Košice Days of Private Law, within the context of “Protection of human values in private law in the context of modern trends and the ongoing recodification of private law”, which took place on 21-23.4.2021. The conference was divided into four panels. The Family Law panel held on 23 4 2021 started off with the speech of Dr. Garayova, on the topic of Slovakia and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
For further details of the event please click here.

Interpretation of fundamental rights in Europe –
The material core of the Constitution
The Faculty of Law of the Pan European University, Slovakia, within the Central European Professors´ Network coordinated by the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law, Hungary, has chosen the topic of the material core of the Constitution of the Slovak Republic for both of its dissemination events within the project on Interpretation of the Human Rights.
The first one was provided by a judge of the Slovak Constitutional Court, Dr. Rastislav Kaššák, PhD., and the second one by another member of the teaching staff of the Faculty of Law of the Pan European University, assistant professor Boris Balog, PhD.
For further details of the event please click here.

Call for Papers for Volume 3, Issue 2
The Editorial Team of Central European Journal of Comparative Law kindly invites the researchers, scholars, and university lecturers to submit their scholarly writings to the forthcoming issue (Volume 3, Issue 2) of our journal in the following sections:
1. Digitalisation and law;
2. Cultural property: protection regime, current problems of looted or nationalized art.
These topics are not exclusive. The Editorial Team gladly welcomes manuscripts from all fields of law which are in connection with the journal’s mission.
For further details please click here.

Within the framework of developing the international cooperation network of the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law, a consultation was held in Warsaw on 15 July 2021 with the participation of Prof. Dr. habil. Przemysław Czarnek, the Polish Minister of Education and Science, Dr. Marcin Romanowski, the Polish Deputy Minister of Justice, Dr. habil. Marcin Wielec, the Director of the Institute of Justice, and last but not least, Prof. habil. Dr. János Ede Szilágyi, the Head of Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law.
At the meeting, not only presented the Polish and Hungarian representatives the achievements of ongoing initiatives, such as that of the Central European Professors’ Network and the Polish-Hungarian Research Platform, but also outlined the possibilities for future cooperation which could further contribute to deepening academic cooperation between the two countries.

The impact of digital media on traditional media
The radio interview was focused on the impact of digital media on traditional media.
The interview was released on 25 06 2021 as the podcast on news server INFO.CZ in the section Welcome to the Future.
The interview was in Czech language. For the english summary please click here.

Stock taking event on the “Future of Europe” conferences organised by the Ministry of Justice and the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law
Stock taking event on the “Future of Europe” conferences organised by the Ministry of Justice and the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law on 25 June 2020 titled ‘Keynote discussion on launching the Conference on the Future of Europe: Perspectives for an interinstitutional agreement, expectations of the Member States and the European institutions’ and 21 September 2020 on ‘Dialogue on the future of Europe: how to build a more effective and genuinely strong Union?’.
For further details please click here.

The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) has elected Davor Derenčinović – Head of the Department of Criminal Law at the University of Zagreb and member of the working group on „The impact of digital platforms and social media on freedom of expression and pluralism” of the Central European Professors’ Network coordinated by the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law – as judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Croatia.
Mr Derenčinović, having obtained an absolute majority of votes cast, is elected judge of the European Court of Human Rights for a term of office of nine years which shall commence on 2 January 2022.
Judges are elected by PACE from a list of three candidates nominated by each State which has ratified the European Convention on Human Rights.
We extend our warm congratulations on his election.

Religious symbols in public sphere in the legal order
On May 31 2021, the webinar was one of the events of the Research Group Freedom of conscience and religion in Europe. The research was carried out within the framework of the Central European Professors’ Network coordinated by the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law.
The webinar consisted of speeches by Prof. Paweł Sobczyk Constitutional basis for the protection of religious symbols in public sphere and dr Michał Poniatowski: The presence of religious symbols in the public sphere in selected judgments of the ECHR.
For further details of the event please click here.

Dialogue on the Future of Europe:
Building a Digital European Union
The Ministry of Justice and the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law are organising a high-profile international conference on 21 June 2021 in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe.
The conference consists of three thematic panel discussions.
Amongst other experts, our first panel “Digitalisation and sovereignty: how to balance the legitimate interest of both”, will be featuring Judit Varga Minister of Justice (HU), Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, and Secretary of State Ana Paula Zacarias.
In the second panel, professionals from the economic world will be discussing the future of European competitiveness.
The third, final panel discussion will focus on “Digitalisation and European citizens: how to ensure an ethical transition?” featuring speakers primarily from the academic sphere.

Educational-professional training for university students, experts, and for others interested
In 2021, until the beginning of May, a special subject was taught to students of the Erasmus+ exchange program from the Faculty of Law of the University of Naples (Università di Napoli, Facoltà di giurisprudenza). The course was led by doc. Damián Němec, dr.
The content of the course was a comparison of individual areas of confessional law in Italy and the Czech Republic with an emphasis on the protection of human rights, especially religious freedom.
For further details please click here.

Safeguarding the best interests of the child in adoption and the impact of the principle of proportionality
Suzana Kraljić & Katja Drnovšek
The Slovenian research was carried out within the framework of the Central European Professors’ Network coordinated by the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law.
“The principle of the child’s best interests (Article 3 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child – UNCRC) is today a fundamental principle of family and child’s law – meaning the area where the law intertwines with the child’s real life. Following the UNCRC, the children’s rights and interests have taken on new dimensions and become necessary for decision-making in all matters relating to children.”
Continue to the English summary.

Legal Regulation of the Same-Sex Partnership in Croatia
The lecture presents the legal regulation of the same-sex unions in Croatia from 2003 to the present days. In 2003, the Act on Life Unions of Persons of the Same-Sex recognized narrow legal effects: mutual maintenance and property relationships, similar to the regulation of the extra-marital unions.
Speaker:
Prof. Dr. Sc. Aleksandra Korać Graovac
Faculty of Law in Zagreb, University in Zagreb
Date of the event:
31 May 2021
For further details please click here.

“Together in Spirit” on the International day of families
Together in Spirit is a TV show that promotes religious freedoms, culture and traditional family values. Professor Aleksandra Korać Graovac, Faculty of Law, University in Zagreb, was asked to be a guest, the International Family Day is on the 15th of May, proclaimed by the UN.
Prof. Korać Graovac pointed out that there are a few comprehensive scientific research on family, and that society is not engaged in protecting the family enough.
She pointed out and stressed as one of the worthy comprehensive project by the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law from Budapest, Hungary, that organized and financed Central European professors of family law, to perform a large project with the study how to legally protect the family with respect to the system of values in a particular legal system.
The video and summary of the TV show can be found here.

Freedom of conscience and religion in pandemic times
webinar
Description: There is hardly any place in the world that remained unaffected by the ongoing coronavirus. The pandemic disrupted international commerce and travel, forced countries to strengthen their borders and introduce restrictive measures, and compelled individuals to stay at home and avoid personal contacts, to prevent the spread of the virus. Among many others, the restrictions also pertain to freedom of religion.
For further details please click here.

Presence of religious symbols in the public sphere –
Religious and Secular in the Public Sphere: 10 Years after Lautsi v. Italy
Presenters:
Izv. prof. dr. sc. Vanja-Ivan Savić
Izv. prof. dr. sc. Frane Staničić
The presenters demonstrated the position of religion in public sphere in two countries, which they are researching in a joint project Freedom of conscience, and religion in Europe.
Professor Savić presented the framework of the research topic as well as the work of Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law, its importance and its aim to gather experts from Central and Eastern Europe, which then could form an important and critically orientated group, which would be able to present views of European scholars. (…)

The issue of limits to national ordre public in non-recognition of judgements in Europen Union
On 20th of May the speech was given by Dr hab. Piotr Mostowik, assist. prof. and member of Central European Professors’ Network 2021 coordinated by the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law.
The topic was focused on the ordre public (public policy) clause as ground of non-enforcement of foreign judgment in civil matters.
This event was held online as part of the International Congress of Civil Procedural Law.
This conference brought together researchers and professionals who, through their scientific studies and practical experiences, could contribute to the analysis of the impact of global and digital sustainable development in matters of procedural law.

Is marriage really just a paper?
Online workshop for secondary school students
about the legally recognized partnership forms
On 29 April 2021, an online workshop under the title “Is marriage really just a paper?” was organized, with the aim to give an educational lecture to secondary school students about the legally regulated forms of partnership in Hungary and their legal characteristics.
The workshop, which was held online via the Google Meet system, was attended by 100 students, who are the 11th grade students of the Avasi Secondary School in Miskolc, as well as the students’ teachers and class teachers.
The lecture was given by Dr. Edit Sápi (assistant lecturer, University of Miskolc, Faculty of Law, Department of Civil Law).

Dialogue on the Future of Europe:
Building a Digital European Union
The Ministry of Justice and the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law are organising a high-profile international conference on 21 June 2021 in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe.
The conference consists of three thematic panel discussions.
Amongst other experts, our first panel “Digitalisation and sovereignty: how to balance the legitimate interest of both”, will be featuring Judit Varga Minister of Justice (HU), Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, and Secretary of State Ana Paula Zacarias.

Regulation of incendiary speech on social networks
The webinar is planned and organized as a dissemination event of the research carried out within the framework of the Central European Professors’ Network coordinated by the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law.
Date of the event: 20 May 2021, 5 P.M., Zoom platform
Languages: English and Slovenian
Format of the event: Round table discussion
For more details please click here.

Social media, freedom of expression and its resctrictions –
countering discrimination in cyberspace
The webinar is planned and organized as a dissemination event of the research carried out within the framework of the Central European Professors’ Network coordinated by the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law.
Date of the event: 17 June 2021, 4 P.M., Microsoft teams
Languages: Croatian, Serbia
Format of the event: Webinar through the Google Meet platform
For more details please click here.

Central European Journal of Comparative Law
The FMI’s Academic Journal
On 14 May 2021, the 1st issue of Volume 2 of the Institute’s scientific journal, called Central European Journal of Comparative Law was published, which can be viewed here.
The first issue of 2021 includes a great variety of topics. Readers may peruse scholarly writings from internationally renowned experts on the rule of law, the relationship between national law and EU law, family enterprises, the recodification of private law, etc.

Polish-Hungarian Research Platform
The Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law (MFI) and the Polish Institute of Justice (Instytut Wymiaru Sprawiedliwości – IWS) held the joint launch event of the Polish-Hungarian Research Platform on 10 May 2021.
The project is supported by the Ministry of Justice of Poland and as the Polish branch of the Central European Professors’ Network is expected to operate in its present form until 31 December 2021.
For further information please click here.

Workshop on the regulation of social media platforms
On 5 May 2021, the Information Society Research Institute of the University of Public Service organised an online workshop to discuss the manuscript “The regulation of social media platforms in Hungary” by András Koltay.
The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the regulation of social media platforms (such as Facebook) in Hungary, and it covers various dilemmas that may arise in the context of modernisation (or the lack thereof) by the platform. Matters related to the limitation of free speech, censorship, and fake news are also covered in the paper.
For further information please click here.

The application and interpretation of fundamental rights
in civil cases
PhD students and young researchers were invited to participate in an online conference related to the research project on „Interpretation of Fundamental Rights in Europe” carried out within the framework of the Central European Professors’ Network coordinated by the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law, with the Hungarian Association for Comparative Law and the Central European Association for Comparative Law.
For further details please click here.

Interpretation of fundamental rights in Europe
The conference titled ‘Interpretation of fundamental rights in Europe’ is organised as part of Central European Professors’ Network 2021.
The issue of fundamental rights is crucial for Europe in the 21st century, in particular in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the event the main issue will be the application of fundamental rights in constitutional courts of seven European countries (Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia), the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

Protection of family in the legal system
The conference titled ‘Protection of family in the legal system’ is organised as part of Central European Professors’ Network 2021.
The conference aims to provide comprehensive and up-to-date insight into the issue of the legal protection of families in the Central European region.
The issue of family protection is crucial for Europe in the 21st century.
Country experts all over the region present their research results on different issues in connection with family law.
At the event there will be several key issues.

The impact of digital platforms and social media on freedom of expression and pluralism – the viewpoints of young scientists
The issue of digitalisation and addressing its possible disadvantages from a legal viewpoint are crucial for Europe in the 21st century.
The main aim of this event is to enable young researchers to present their research results.
The conference is organised as a dissemination event of Bartłomiej Oręziak (the member of the research group titled The Impact of Digital Platforms and Social Media on Freedom of Expression and Pluralism).
For further details please click here.

Censorship in social networks and fake news in social networks
An Oxford debate titled ‘Censorship in social networks and fake news in social networks’ is organised as part of Central European Professors’ Network 2021.
The issue of digitalisation and addressing its possible disadvantages from a legal viewpoint are crucial for Europe in the 21st century.
The main aim of the event is to enable young researchers to present different visions regarding (…)

Religious symbols in public sphere in the legal orders of
Central and Eastern European countries
The issue of freedom of conscience and religion is crucial for Europe in the 21st century.
At the event there will be two key issues:
- freedom of conscience and religion relating to the possibility of manifesting one’s beliefs through religious symbols;
- case law on the issue.
For further details please click here.

The impact of digital platforms and social media on freedom of expression and pluralism – in general terms
The Professors’ Network, with the active participation of experts from seven different countries organises events with the primary aim to draw attention of the European citizens to the topics which are important and significant in connection with the future of Europe, in particular of Central Europe.
The issue of digitalisation and addressing its possible disadvantages from a legal viewpoint are crucial for Europe in the 21st century.
At the event there will be two key issues.

Polish marriage law in the context of social changes and evolution of law in Europe
The lecture will be delivered and discussion hosted by
Dr. hab. Prof. INP PAN Marek Andrzejewski (Faculty of Educational Studies at Adam Mickiewicz University)
Date of the lecture: 26 May 2021
The webinar is an event organised as a part of the project Central European Professors’ Network coordinated by the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law in Budapest.
For more details please click here.

Family law consequences of the same-sex union
Speaker: Professor Dr. Gordana Kovaček Stanić
Place of the event: Institute for European Studies, Belgrade
Format of the event: Weblecture – Zoom
Date of the event: 17 May 2021
The main reason for choosing this theme is recent Serbian Draft on same-sex union. Regulation of the same-sex union differs in European countries. There are three main concepts.
For further details please click here.

MFI Internship Programme
The Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law calls for applications for participating in its Internship Programme
Would you like to take part in the unique Central European English-language internship programme, and be one of the first participants in the new programme launching in September 2021?
Get to know the possibilities and details of the long-term internship programme offered by the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law (MFI), and be one of the seven scholarship interns selected for the programme starting this autumn!

The impact of digital platforms and social media on freedom
of expression and pluralism
Speaker: Dr. Dušan V. Popović, professor at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law
(Member of the Central European Professors’ Network 2021)
Date of the webinar: 27 April 2021
The webinar started by exploring the foundations of freedom of speech on the Internet, the concept of ‘speech’ and the concept of social networks as a public forum.
For further details please click here.

COFOLA 2021 (Conference for Young Lawyers)
Cohabitation in European Context
Lecture of Prof. JUDr. Zdeňka Králíčková, Ph.D.
(Member of the Central European Professors’ Network 2021)
Date of the conference: 23 April 2021
Language: English
Form of section: on-line conference (MS Teams or zoom)
“The main aim of this conference is to give the floor to the doctoral students and young scientists at their early stage of career and enable them to present the results of their scientific activities.”
For further details please click here.

An international doctoral conference with the title „Saving families – saving values” was organized at 26 March 2021. The webinar was organized by the Central European Professors’ Network coordinated by the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law (Hungary, Budapest); by the University of Miskolc, Faculty of Law, Institution of Private Law, Department of Civil Law; by the Hungarian Scientific Academy Miskolc Regional Committee of the Private Law Scientific Working Committee; and by the Central-European Comparative Law Association.
The summary of the webinar conference can be found here.

Religious symbols in the public sphere
and the secularity of the state
The presenter was dr. Dalibor Đukić assistant professor and he presented the results of the research conducted under the support of the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law within the Central European Professors’ Network.
The online lecture was held on April 22 as a part of the master programme of the University of Belgrade “Religion in society, culture and European integration”.
For further details please click here.

“NEGATIVE MEINUNGSFREIHEIT”? – Reaction to falsifying history by using the phrase ‘Polish death camps’ in media
The issue of legal reaction to the falsifying of history by using the expression “Polish concentration camps” in mass media in light of the judgement of 22 December 2016 of the court of appeals in Kraków, BGH Beschluss von 19 July 2018 and the opinion of the ECJ advocate general of 23 February 2021.
Lecture of Dr. hab. Piotr Mostowik, Prof. UJ.
(Member of the Central European Professors’ Network 2021)
The summary of the lecture can be found here.

Interpretation of Human Rights in the Judiciary of the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic
Lecture of doc. JUDr. Katarína Šmigová (member of the Central European Professors’ Network 2021, ‘Interpretation of fundamental rights in Europe’ research team) and Rastislav Kaššak
The lecture was given online and organised by Pan European University, Slovakia, within the Central European Professors´ Network coordinated by the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law, Hungary.
JUDr. Rastislav Kaššák, PhD., a judge of the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic gave his lecture on 11 March 2021 on Interpretation of Human Rights in the Judiciary of the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic in relation to the material core of the Constitution of the Slovak Republic.
The summary and the video of the webinar lecture can be found here.
Central European Professors’ Network
The Central European Professors’ Network started its international comparative law research activity on January 1, 2021, under the coordination of the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law.
The Professors’ Network, with the active participation of seven countries (Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia) and 34 main researchers, organises comprehensive international scientific activities in four research groups. The main frame issues are: „ Interpretation of fundamental rights in Europe”, “Family protection in law”, „Freedom of conscience and religion in Europe” and „The impact of digital platforms and social media on freedom of expression and pluralism”. The primary aim of the initiative is to create and organise a Central European professional network through closer partnership.
The partial and final results of the cooperation, which will run until 31 December 2021, will be made available by each research team on various professional platforms, including conferences, and in the form of publications (scientific articles and books summarizing research results).

On the 9 December 2020, the 2nd issue of the Institute’s scientific journal, called Central European Journal of Comparative Law was published, which can be viewed here.

The Ministry of Justice and the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law co-organised the conference, called The Dialogue on the Future of Europe: How to Build a More Effective End Genuinely Strong Union which was held on 21 September 2020 in the Delegation Hall of the Parliament.
In addition to dr. Judit Varga, Minister of Justice, and Dubravka Šuica, Vice-President of the European Commission, several jurists, and internationally recognized political experts took part in the dialogue. Due to unusual circumstances, the conference was held in hybrid form, partly online, and was available live on the Internet.
The detailed program of the conference can be found here.
Summary report of the conference can be found here.
The lectures of the panels can be viewed here.

The second conference of the Central European Regional Rural Law Conference series, launched by CEDR-HAAL (Hungarian Association of Agricultural Law), was hold on 17 September 2020 in the form of a webinarium with the support of Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law. The webinarium was based on two topics, on one hand, on the transfer of holdings between generations and the succession of agricultural holding/land, on the other hand, on land acquisition by legal persons.
After the opening ceremony ten presenters introduced the regulation of their own country in connection with the given topics – Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Spain and Hungary.
The detailed programme of the conference can be found here.
Some of the presentations can be found here.

The Conference in Memory of Itsván Szászy, scheduled for spring but postponed for unfortunate reasons, was held on 16 September 2020 in the Reading Room of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
Under unusual circumstances,observing the epidemiological regulations, we were able to listen to lectures of highly qualified law professors, which presented some details of the work of István Szászy.

On July 20 2020, Dr. habil. János Ede Szilágyi, Head of the Institute took part in an official visit with dr. Judit Varga, the Minister of Justice, in Warsaw, as part of which he signed a scientific cooperation agreement with the Warsaw Institute of Justice.
The purpose of the agreement is to conduct future joint legal research, to assist in the interpretation of the legal systems of the two countries and to support each other in other areas of research.
Photo made by: Guerini-Temesi Melinda /IM

On June 25 2020, the Ferenc Mádl Institute for Comparative Law and the Ministry of Justice co-organized an online conference, called Keynote discussion on launching the Conference on the Future of Europe. The topic was the expectations of the series of conferences on the future of the EU, with special emphasis on the expectations of the Member States.
Synapsis and summary report of the online conference can be found here.
The video of the first panel can be found here.
ferenc mádl

Scholar, university professor of law, member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Minister without portfolio and later Minister of Culture and Public Education in the first two conservative cabinets between 1990-1994. President of Hungary between 2000-2005.
Mádl Ferenc Institute of Comparative Law
address: 1123 Budapest, Alkotás Street 55-61.
e-mail: mfi@mfi.gov.hu
phone: +36 (1) 795-2006
mailing address: 1525 Budapest, Pf. 79.