Professor Tobias Lock

Realising European Values through European Law (REVEL), led by Professor Tobias Lock, has secured €100,000 in funding over a three-year period starting this month.

The funding, awarded following a competitive process, will support an ambitious programme of research and knowledge exchange exploring the realisation of values of the European Union through EU law from different angles and reaching out to a plurality of audiences.

REVEL director Professor Lock said: “We are thrilled to become a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence. It is a fantastic recognition of the hard work of so many at the School and wider University in building our capacity in EU Law.

“The funding will allow us to pursue an exciting programme of activities and to firmly establish Maynooth University as a go-to place for unique expertise in EU law.“

REVEL focuses on constructive approaches to strengthening EU values through law, exploring the EU Digital Framework, strategic litigation and advocacy, substantive equality, the rule of law, and interactions with the Council of Europe.

The REVEL team consists of academics from the School of Law and Criminology and beyond, who will collaborate on six work packages.

The cross-cutting work organisational package, led by Professor Lock, will feature an annual lecture (led by Dr Hubert Smekal), an annual student debate, “Communiversity” (led by Dr Derek Barter from the Department of Adult Education) and a funded visitors’ programme which will enable nine external visitors to spend time with the REVEL team.

Dr Maria Murphy will lead a work package on the application and enforcement of the EU Digital Framework.

Dr Orla Kelleher and Dr Ollie Bartlett will lead the package on empowering advocates and supporting strategic litigation and environmental health justice.

Dr Charles O’Sullivan will lead the work package on achieving substantive equality.

Dr Hubert Smekal will lead a work package on enforcing the rule of law.

Professor Lock and Dr David Mangan will lead the final work package on external realisation of EU values and interaction with the Council of Europe.

Professor Fergus Ryan, head of Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology, added: “I am delighted with this wonderful outcome, and congratulate the team warmly on achieving this well-deserved recognition.

“The new Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence is a testament to the School’s extensive, impactful research outputs in this field, and the multiple high-quality learning opportunities we offer in the domain of EU law.

“We are exceptionally proud of our EU Law team, and excited to see where the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence takes us next.”