15:00
King's College London
October 19
Strand Campus Room: The Great HallStrand, London, WC2R 2LS
The Pact on Migration and Asylum has opened a new chapter that delivers stronger external border protection, fair and firm asylum rules, and a balance between solidarity and responsibility among Member States. The EU is moving beyond crisis-driven responses toward a more coherent, strategic, and forward-looking framework. Ensuring that this overhaul of the EU legal and operational system delivers on its objectives requires a sustained focus on implementation, alongside stronger and more strategic cooperation with key external partners. A genuinely comprehensive approach that bridges the Union’s internal and external policies is an opportunity to bring closer together the key elements of a system that is fit for the future - effective control, fairness, resilience and innovation.
This lecture is also the annual lecture of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on Next Generation EU-UK Relations (JMCE NEXT-REL)
Magnus Brunner is the European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, a position he holds since December 1, 2024. In this role, he is responsible for strengthening internal security, designing and implementing Migration and Asylum policies, enforcing integrated border management and leading the dialogue with religious and philosophical associations. Prior to his current role, Mr Brunner served as Austria's Federal Minister of Finance from December 2021 to November 2024. He also held the position of State Secretary in the Ministry of Climate Action, Energy, Environment, Mobility Innovation, and Technology from January 2020 to December 2021. Earlier in his career, he was a member of the Federal Council for the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) from May 2009 to January 2020. Mr Brunner holds a Doctor of Law degree from the University of Vienna and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from King's College London. He was born and raised in the region of Vorarlberg, Austria.
Andrea Biondi is an Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), which he joined in October 2024. He is also a Professor at King’s College London and the co-director of the Centre of European Law. A leading authority on EU law, before joining the Court, he taught and researched EU law at Kings, with a focus on State aid, internal market law, trade regulation, energy law, and the judicial protection of EU rights. He also advised governments and international organisations on EU law matters, and served as Vice Chair of the Board of Appeal of the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER).
A drinks reception will follow the lecture.
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