Value-Based or Treaty-Constrained? The Significance of Positive Obligations in European Union Criminal Law
On March 30, 2026, a public lecture titled “Value-Based or Treaty-Constrained? The Significance of Positive Obligations in European Union Criminal Law” was held, organized by the European University Institute of Law.
The lecture was delivered by Søren Verdoner, Professor of Criminal Law at Aarhus University (Denmark), who presented to the audience one of the most topical and theoretically significant debates surrounding the development of European Union criminal law.
The speaker highlighted a central question: should the European Union’s criminal law policy be defined strictly within the scope of competences conferred by the Treaties, or should it also be grounded in the EU’s fundamental values and their practical implementation? Within this framework, the concept of positive obligations was examined as a legal instrument that may shape the EU’s active role in safeguarding its core values.
A substantial part of the discussion focused on a critical issue - whether, in protecting its values within the field of criminal law, the European Union operates within the limits set by the Treaties, or in certain instances exceeds this legal framework.
The event was conducted in an interactive format, allowing participants to pose questions and actively engage in the discussion.
Simultaneous interpretation was provided throughout the lecture.
The European University Institute of Law continues to organize similar academic events aimed at deepening contemporary legal debates and strengthening international academic cooperation.
