31. Würzburger Europarechtstage 2026 -

The European Union in Outer Space

June 15 and 16, 2026

Host

Prof. Dr. Isabel Feichtner

Professur für Öffentliches Recht und Wirtschaftsvölkerrecht

Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
Domerschulstr. 16
97070 Würzburg

Venue

Neubaukirche

Domerschulstr. 16
97070 Würzburg

The Neubaukirche can be reached from Würzburg Central Station via tram lines "4 - Sanderau" and "5 - Rottenbauer," getting off at the "Neubaustraße" stop.

Parking:
Residenz (paid)
Parkhaus Neubaustraße (paid)

Information for Students

To help prepare for the conference, we are offering an introductory session (in English) on Monday, June 15, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Seminar Room 1 (Old University), which will provide an initial overview of international space law and the conference topics.

The exam for the European Law Days will take place on Saturday, July 4, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM in Lecture Hall IV (Old University).

Conference Theme

Governments, corporations and research institutions increasingly direct their attention to outer space. The exploration and development of outer space promise new sources of economic growth and advancements in AI, pharmaceutical research, communication, and navigation services. Digital and physical space infrastructure have become indispensable in contemporary life and warfare. Consequently, influence in space has become synonymous with economic and political power, and attempts to increase control over space resources fuel an increasingly intensified global competition. The European Union faces the challenge of developing its own space policy while aligning it with the objectives of sustainability, autonomy, and resilience.

The 2026 Würzburger Europarechtstage take this geopolitical shift as an opportunity to examine the future of the European Union's engagement in outer space. The event will include a public keynote and roundtable discussion situating today’s challenges within the historical context of space exploration and its legal regulation during the Cold War. The panel discussions will first address the rise of satellite mega-constellations and the associated legal approaches to mitigate their environmental impact. Other key topics include the militarisation of space, the role of the United Nations in maintaining orbital security, and the alignment of space activities with the EU’s defense strategy. The conference will also explore the intersection of science and diplomacy, emphasising how scientific expertise can guide the governance of outer space as a global commons.

Conference Program

Montag, 15. Juni 2026

15:00 Registration and Coffee

15:30 Welcome and Introduction

Christoph Teichmann (Dean of the Law Faculty, University of Würzburg)

Isabel Feichtner (University of Würzburg)

Anna Raab (University of Würzburg)

16:00–17:30 Panel I: Satellites and Science Fiction – Outer Space as Junk Yard or Future Habitat

Hakan Kayal (University of Würzburg)

Michael Hennessy Picard (Lecturer in International Environmental Law, University of Edinburgh)

Caroline Rapatz (Professor of Civil Law, European and International Private Law and Procedural Law, Comparative Law at Christian-Albrechts-Universität in Kiel)

18:00–19:30 Public Keynote and Roundtable Discussion: “From Cold War Commons to the Second Race for Outer Space”

Matthew Craven (Professor of Law, SOAS University of London)

Isabel Feichtner (Professor of Law, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg)

Alexandra Kemmerer (Senior Research Fellow & Head of Berlin Office at Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law)

Dienstag, 16. Juni 2026

09:30–11:00 Panel II: Security – Outer Space as a Domain of Militarization, Conflict and Defence

Hasan Abbas (Deputy Director (Arms Control, Disarmament & International Security) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Pakistan)

Almudena Azcárate Ortega (Senior Program Analyst, Space Law and Regulation at the Secure World Foundation)

Guido Dietl (Professor of Satellite Communication and Radar Systems, Institute of Computer Science, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg)

11:30–13:00 Panel III: Science – Science Diplomacy in the Governance of Outer Space

Ulpia Botezatu (Co-Chair United Nations COPUOS - Action Team on Lunar Activities Consultation (ATLAC) / Romanian Space Agency)

Franziska Knur (International Space Law Expert, German Aerospace Center)

Martin Müller (Executive Director, Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA))

Philipp Sauter (Senior Research Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law)

13:00 Lunch

Conference flyer

Click on the image to download the flyer for the 2026 Europarechtstage.

Registration

Contact

E-Mail: europarechtstage@jura.uni-wuerzburg.de

Sanderring

Röntgenring Hubland Nord Hubland Süd Campus Medizin

31. Würzburger Europarechtstage 2026

Prof. Dr. Isabel Feichtner

Picture credits