Announcement: Symposium on Emergency Law

Date: June 6, 13.00-17.00 hrs

Venue: Groningen – precise location tba

Registration: tba – registration form will be uploaded

If ordinary law falls short addressing the consequences of extraordinary circumstances, emergency law may be applied. Questions as which circumstances may be qualified as extraordinary to justify the application of emergency law; as to whom are granted extraordinary powers in that situation and what the exact wording and meaning of emergency law is, is not regulated in the same way in every jurisdiction. But even within one legal system, it is not clear when emergency law can be applied, what it is and where it is regulated. Dutch emergency law, for instance, is fragmented. It lacks an all-inclusive system of measures; when does state emergency law and when ordinary crisis law apply? There are also overlaps, inconsistencies and gaps occurring between the different laws. This became clear again recently during the Corona crisis. What does emergency law look like in other jurisdictions? The aim of the theme is to gain insight into emergency law in other countries to see whether any principles or guidelines can be formulated when redesigning emergency law. The insights gained can be used in the modernisation of (state) emergency and crisis law announced by the Minister of Justice and Security.