Leuven – ESI presentation at Politeia Conference on the judiciary and Europe’s democratic peace

ESI’s Gerald Knaus spoke as respondent to Koen Lenaerts, president of the Court of Justice of the European Union, at the Politeia Conference held at Leuven University. The event brought together legal scholars, politicians and civil society actors from across Europe to discuss the role of the judiciary as a defence against rising authoritarianism in Europe.

In his lecture, Lenaerts underlined the essential role of independent courts in safeguarding fundamental rights and the rule of law within the EU. He warned against the growing tendency of illiberal governments to undermine judicial institutions, politicise appointments and disregard court rulings. Lenaerts stressed that the credibility of the European legal order depends on mutual trust between member states and on the unwavering commitment to uphold legal obligations.

Koen Lenaerts and Gerald Knaus. Photo: ESI

In his response, Gerald highlighted the historical roots and enduring relevance of the European Union as a voluntary system of rule-based cooperation. He recalled how former soldiers, resistance fighters and Holocaust survivors laid the foundations for European integration in the 1950s, building institutions designed to make war and repression unthinkable through shared laws, courts and trust. “This miracle,” he argued, “is not guaranteed – it must be understood, defended and explained anew to each generation.”

Gerald warned that the EU is under pressure on three fronts: from outside powers like Russia and MAGA, from anti-European forces within its member states, and from declining public trust. He argued that courts play a crucial role in protecting democratic peace, especially when politics falter, and called for more effort to communicate the EU’s purpose to young Europeans.

The day-long conference also included closed-door seminars on lessons from Poland’s judicial crisis and on how fears over migration are being used to undermine the rule of law. It concluded with a dinner discussion on What to do? with Koen Lenaerts.

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Koen Lenaerts and Gerald Knaus. Photo: ESI