Balancing Conflicting Public and Private Interests in European and International Family Law, 30-31 October 2025, Groningen (NL)

Conference Details

The University of Groningen, University of Sassari, and the European Association for Family and Succession Law cordially invite interested parties to attend the conference 'Balancing Conflicting Public and Private Interests in European and International Family Law' on 30-31 October 2025, in Groningen, the Netherlands.

Registration

You can register, through email and subject to availability, by 19 October 2025. Please address your email to Prof. Dr. Aurelia Colombi Ciacchi (a.l.b.colombi.ciacchi@rug.nl).

Conference Programme

Thursday, 30 October 2025 (afternoon session – h. 13.30/17.00)
Venue: Van der Leeuw Room, Academy Building, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

13:30 – 13:50: Welcome and Introduction

• Prof. Dr. Wilbert Kolkman, Dean of the Groningen Law Faculty

13:50 – 14:50: Panel I – Cross-border Family Relationships

• Chair: Dr. Aukje Mens, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
• Prof. Dr. Michael Stürner, University of Konstanz, Germany: As You Like It? The Reform of the Law Applicable to Name and Gender in Germany
• Prof. Francesco Astone, University of Foggia, Italy: Parental responsibility on cross-border relationships
• Mr. Robert Thake, Legal Office Specialized in Family Law, Malta: The 1980 Hague Convention: The Maltese experience

14:50 – 15:20: Discussion

15:20 – 15:35: Coffee Break

15:35 – 16:35: Panel II – Matrimonial Property Law

• Chair: Prof. Giovanni Marini, University of Perugia, Italy
• Prof. Maria Rosaria Marella, Roma Tre University, Italy: Marital Property and Carework. A Quest for a Fair Distribution Regime
• Dr. Roberta Bendinelli, University of Sassari, Italy: Private autonomy and arrangements related to divorce
• Prof. Maria Novella Bugetti, University of Ferrara, Italy: Communion of life and communion of property between spouses in the mirror of the crisis: paths of case-law in Italy

16:35 – 17:00: Discussion

Friday, 31 October 2025 (morning session – h. 9.30/13.00)
Venue: Norman Building, Lutkenieuwstraat 5, Groningen

09:30 – 10:30: Panel III – Cohabitation

• Chair: Prof. Salvatore Patti, Italy
• Avv. Maria Alessandra Iannicelli, Italy: Cohabitation in Italy after Almost Ten Years Since Law No. 76/2016
• Prof. Camino Sanciñena Asurmendi, University of Oviedo, Spain: Cohabitation versus Marriage in Spain

10:30 – 11:00: Discussion

11:00 – 11:15: Coffee Break

11:15 – 12:15: Panel IV – Living Wills and Last Wills

• Chair: Prof. Dr. Leon Verstappen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
• Prof. Mirzia Bianca, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy: A Rethinking on the Forced Heirs’ Position in Italy
• Joe van Anken, University of Groningen, The Netherlands: Informal Carers and the Law of Succession in the Context of Healthcare Privatisation
• Prof. Diletta Giunchedi, University of Ferrara, Italy: The Italian Prohibition of Agreements as to Succession and Article 25 of Regulation (EU) No 650/2012

12:15 – 12:45: Discussion

12:45 – 13:00: Concluding Remarks