Programme

All sessions take place in a hybrid format, online and in Bruges.

Day 1 - Thursday, 20th October 2022 8.45 – 17:45 (CET)

08.45 – 09.15 Welcome and Registration

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09.15 – 09.45 Opening Statements

Federica Mogherini, Rector, College of Europe
Gilles Carbonnier, Vice-President, ICRC
Knut Dörmann, Head of Delegation, ICRC Brussels

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09.45 – 10.45 Setting the Scene: Global trends and contemporary landscapes of armed conflicts

Introduction to the topic by the Chair Elizabeth Wilmshurst, Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House and University College of London

1. Classifying conflicts in 2022 – reflections on a practical challenge
Thomas de Saint Maurice, ICRC
2. Global trends in armed conflicts: the perspective of a military institution
Nathalie Durhin, NATO SHAPE
3. A legal perspective on the relevance of IHL criteria to classify contemporary conflicts
Julia Grignon, Institut de Recherche Stratégique de l’Ecole Militaire

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11.00 – 12.30 Panel 1: International armed conflict: when does a State become a Party to the conflict?

Introduction to the topic by the Chair Frank Hoffmeister, EEAS

1. From supporter to party in the conflict: when does support amount to co-belligerency?
Jeroen Van Den Boogaard, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Netherlands
2. Entering an international armed conflict through cyber means: virtual or real possibility?
Mark Dakers, International Institute of Humanitarian Law
3. Occupation revival: the challenge of occupation by proxy
Eugénie Duss, University of Geneva

12:00- 12:30 Moderated Discussion and Q&A

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14:00-15:45 Panel 2: Not taking sides: Is the Law of Neutrality still relevant in the XXIst century?

Introduction to the topic by the Chair Luca Ferro, Free University of Brussels

1. The Law of Neutrality in the XXIst century: evolution or revolution?
Michael Bothe, Goethe University of Frankfurt
2. How to stay neutral in 2022? A practical approach
Hanne Cuyckens, Leiden University
3. Is neutrality possible in the cyber/outer space domain?
Kevin Kohler, ETH Center for Security Studies, Zürich

15:00- 15:45 Moderated Discussion and Q&A

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16:00-17:45 Panel 3: Reaching the threshold(s): when do non-State actors become parties in an armed conflict?

Introduction to the topic by the Chair, Vaios Koutroulis, Université Libre de Bruxelles

1. Stronger together? Understanding how IHL applies to non-State armed group coalitions
Ezequiel Heffes, Geneva Call
2. Military support and IHL: A critical view of the fragmented approach
Pauline Lesaffre, Université Catholique de Louvain
3. Contemporary challenges arising from fighting NSAG abroad: a State view
Camille Faure, Ministère des Armées, France

17:00 – 17:45 Moderated Discussion and Q&A

Day 2 - Friday, 21st October 2022 09:00 – 13:00 (CET)

09:00-10:45 Panel 4: On the battlefield: the multiplicity of actors and challenges for the application of IHL – Part I

Introduction to the topic by the Chair, Elzbieta Mikos-Skuza, University of Warsaw and College of Europe

1. You’re in the army now: who is a combatant in 2022?
Jelena Pejic, IHL Expert
2. The changing status of civilians, levée en masse and DPH
Annyssa Bellal, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
3. Third nationals in IAC – A State perspective
Pierre Degezelle, Ministry of Defence, Belgium

10:00 – 10:45 Moderated discussion and Q&A

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11:00-12:45 Panel 5: On the battlefield: the multiplicity of actors and challenges for the application of IHL – Part II

Introduction to the topic by the Chair, Marco Sassòli, University of Geneva

1.PMSCs: soldiers of fortune?
Matt Pollard, ICRC
2.Media, disinformation and propaganda: what’s new?
Christie Edwards, American Society of International Law / Geneva Call
3.Private sector and participation in armed conflicts
Tsvetelina Van Benthem, Oxford University

12:00 – 12:45 Moderated discussion and Q&A

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12:45 – 13:00: Closing Statement by Knut Dörmann, ICRC Brussels

The panelists

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Elzbieta Mikos Skuza

University Of Warsaw

Senior Lecturer

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Ezequiel Heffes

Geneva Call

Senior Policy and Legal Advisor

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Marco Sassoli

University of Geneva

Professor of International Law

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Nathalie Durhin

NATO/SHAPE Office of Legal Affairs

Head of Operational Law Branch

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Pauline Lesaffre

University of Louvain

Postdoctoral Researcher

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Vaios Koutroulis

Université libre de Bruxelles

Professor of Public International Law

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Camille Faure

Ministry for the armed forces, France

Deputy Head of Department of Legal affairs

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Jeroen van den Boogaard

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands

Legal counsel for International Law

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Hanne Cuyckens

Leiden university

Assistant Professor in International Law

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Thomas de Saint Maurice

ICRC

Head of Unit - Operational Legal Advisers

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Elizabeth Wilmshurst

Chatham House

Distinguished Fellow, International Law

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Julia Grignon

Laval University

Associate Professor

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Frank Hoffmeister

EEAS

Director for General Affairs and Head of Legal Department

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Michael Bothe

J.W. Goethe University

Professor of Public Law

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Kevin Kohler

ETH Zurich - Center for Security Studies

Senior Researcher

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Eugénie Duss

University of Geneva

PhD Candidate

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Christie Edwards

American Society of International Law

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Luca Ferro

Vrije Universiteit Brussels

Assistant Professor in International Law

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Mark Dakers

International Institute of Humanitarian Law

Director of Military Department

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Pierre Degezelle

Belgian Defense - Directorate General for Legal Support

Head of Operational Law Branch

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Tsvetelina van Benthem

Oxford Diplomatic Studies Programme

Lecturer in Public International Law

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Annyssa Bellal

Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies

Senior Researcher