Representatives of the Faculty of Law of UzhU took part in the international conference TEIN-BIG 2026 in Belgium
On 6-7 October 2026, the international conference TEIN-BIG 2026 "Governing at the Border: Norms, Rules, Cross-Border and Transnational Practices; from Citizen to Institution" was held in the Belgian city of Mons. The event brought together scholars and practitioners from various countries to discuss how the role of borders is changing, what challenges border regions face, and how to develop cross-border cooperation.
Uzhhorod University was represented at the conference by: Vice-Rector for Research and Teaching of UzhU Myroslava Lendiel, Professor of the Department of Civil Law and Procedure Mariia Mendzhul, Director of the Research Institute of Fundamental and Applied Studies of European Territorial Cooperation Yuliia Fetko, Deputy Dean for Research Vadym Pishta, and Lecturer of the Department of Administrative, Financial and Information Law Polina Malesh.
On the first day of the conference, 6 October, Polina Malesh and Vadym Pishta presented a joint paper "The Temporary Protection Directive and the Right to Freedom of Movement: The Ukrainian Case as a Test for the EU Border Management System". The researchers focused on the legal issues that arose after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, when millions of Ukrainians were forced to seek protection in EU states. In particular, they discussed the relationship between temporary protection and freedom of movement, as well as the challenges that the Ukrainian experience posed to the European border management system.
On 7 October, Myroslava Lendiel delivered a paper "Managing Cross-Border Cooperation under Conditions of War: The Example of the Western Regions of Ukraine – Zakarpattia". Using the example of Zakarpattia, she examined how the war affected cooperation among border regions, what changes occurred in interaction between neighbouring states, and what role cross-border ties play in present-day conditions.
Over the course of two days, participants discussed a wide range of issues: from the restoration of internal border controls in the Schengen area and the fight against cross-border crime to cooperation during natural disasters, spatial planning and the specifics of legal regulation of border relations. Considerable attention was also given to issues of citizenship, territorial identity and the removal of obstacles that complicate cooperation between neighbouring regions of different states.
Participation in TEIN-BIG 2026 made it possible not only to present the results of research related to Ukraine, but also to discuss them with European colleagues. Of particular interest was the exchange of experience regarding the work of border regions under conditions of crises, forced migration and changes in European border management policy.
The conference also became an occasion for new professional acquaintances, discussion of shared research interests and opportunities for further international cooperation.
