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 Lecture Hall 127 (New University), which will provide an initial overview of international space law and the conference topics.

Participation can be credited as a 1-credit course through an essay written after the conference—either toward the supplementary and advanced studies program in European Law or toward the Certificate in Legal Terminology and Foreign Law (English).

Registration: WueStudy

Orientation session: June 15, 10 a.m.–12 p.m., Lecture Hall 127, New University

Essay questions released: June 22

Submission deadline: June 29

Registration

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

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)

Hakan Kayal (University of Würzburg)

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

Moderator: Philipp Sauter (University of Würzburg)

18:00–19:30 Public Keynote and Roundtable Discussion

“From Cold War Commons to the Second Race for Outer Space”

Matthew Craven (SOAS University of London)

Isabel Feichtner (University of 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 (Secure World Foundation)

Guido Dietl (University of Würzburg)

Franziska Knur (German Aerospace Center)

Moderator: Anna Raab (University of Würzburg)

11:15–12:45 Panel III

Satellites and Science Fiction – Outer Space as Junk Yard or Future Habitat

Michael Hennessy Picard (University of Edinburgh)

Caroline Rapatz (University of Kiel)

Kevin Madders (King´s College London)

Marine Briard (KU Leuven)

Moderator: Eva-Marie Kieninger (University of Würzburg)

13:00 Concluding Remarks

Conference flyer

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

Panelists of the 31. Würzburger Europarechtstage

Contact

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

We thank you for the kind support

31. Würzburger Europarechtstage 2026

Prof. Dr. Isabel Feichtner

Picture credits