The programme of the plenary session is being continuously updated. The organisers reserve the right to make changes to the programme.
17 September 2026 (Thursday), Comenius University Hall
9.00 – 13.00
The central theme of the plenary session:
"Sustainability of Business Activity in the EU in the Context of Environmental Protection"
9.00 – 9.30 – Opening Remarks
Marek Števček
Rector of the Comenius University Bratislava
Eduard Burda
Dean of Faculty of Law, Comenius University Bratislava
Juraj Blanár
Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic
Maroš Šefčovič (video-speech)
European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security; Inter-institutional Relations and Transparency
Panel Discussion I
Planet First: The Environment at the Center of Attention
9.30 – 10.30
This panel discussion will address the pressing challenges of environmental protection in the context of ongoing environmental change. Particular attention will be given to issues related to climate change, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development, as well as their broader implications for society and public policy. The discussion will explore the role of law, scientific knowledge, and international cooperation in safeguarding the environment and addressing complex environmental challenges. Panelists will examine strategies and policy approaches aimed at preserving natural resources and promoting long-term environmental sustainability for future generations.
Speakers
Peter Fedor
He is a faculty member at the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University Bratislava, where he is primarily responsible for teaching and academic supervision in the fields of ecosystem ecology, bioindication, and environmental monitoring.
His long-term research focuses on biodiversity and the ecology of non-native insect species, with particular emphasis on their invasive potential in the context of ongoing global environmental change. He also conducts research on rare and endangered invertebrate species, contributing to their study, conservation, and monitoring.
Gyula Bándi
Emeritus Professor Gyula Bándi, DSc He was the head of Environmental and Competition Law Chair of the Faculty of Law at the Pázmány Péter Catholic University (PPKE) Budapest between 1998 and 2025, a Jean Monnet Professor of EU Environmental Law; Director of the Doctoral School of the PPKE between 2015 and 2025; Former Dean of the Faculty at the PPKE.
Doing research and teaching environmental law since 1978. Deputy Commissioner of Fundamental Rights, Ombudsman for Future Generations since 2017.
Author of more than 330 books, chapters, articles in the field of environmental law.
Founder of the Environmental Management and Law Association (EMLA, 1992), a public interest environmental law centre. He is also a member of ‘Avosetta’, an informal working group for European environmental law since its foundation in 2001.
Moderator
Matúš Michalovič
He works at the Faculty of Law of Comenius University Bratislava, at the Department of Administrative and Environmental Law. In his research and teaching, he focuses primarily on environmental and climate law, legal liability, and the enforcement of environmental law.
He has been systematically engaged in climate law also in connection with his study and research stay at Tilburg University and contributed to the introduction of a separate course focusing on the legal aspects of climate change at the Faculty of Law of Comenius University. In 2026, his monograph Legal Framework of Climate Measures was published by C. H. Beck.
He also has practical experience from the Slovak Environmental Inspectorate and the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic, where he participated in the preparation of draft legislation, including the draft Act on Climate Change and the Low-Carbon Transformation of the Slovak Republic. He is the author and co-author of several scientific and professional publications, has participated in national and international research projects, and since 2025 has been a member of the Avosetta Group, an international network of lawyers focused on the development and comparative analysis of environmental law in Europe.
Panel Discussion II
The Green Cost of Business: When Regulations Change the Rules of the Game
10.45 – 11.45
This panel discussion will examine the impact of environmental regulations on the business environment, both in Slovakia and in the international context. The debate will focus on the challenge of balancing environmental protection with the need to maintain business competitiveness, as well as on the practical implications of new regulatory frameworks for companies. Particular attention will be given to the implementation of ESG principles, emissions limits, and other European Union legislative measures that influence business operations in today’s economic landscape. The discussion will provide insights into how companies can adapt to evolving regulatory requirements while remaining resilient and competitive in a rapidly changing market environment.
Speakers
Roman Karlubík
Roman Karlubík is a long-standing representative of the Slovak chemical and pharmaceutical industry, with extensive experience in the management of industrial and research and development companies. Since 2004, he has served as President of the Association of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry of the Slovak Republic, while also holding the position of Vice President for International Relations and Environmental Affairs at the Association of Employers’ Associations and Unions of the Slovak Republic (AZZZ SR). In his professional activities, he focuses primarily on social dialogue, legislation, the regulation of the business environment, and representing the interests of Slovak industry at both the national and European levels.
Mr. Karlubík also has extensive experience in the field of research and development. Since 2012, he has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of VÚP, a.s. (Petrochemical Research Institute), where he is responsible, among other things, for the company's strategic management and research and development projects. Throughout his career, he has held leadership positions in several major chemical companies and has also served in various international institutions and organizations. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC).
He is a graduate of the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, where he specialized in Macromolecular Chemistry. He also holds an MBA degree from IMADEC University.
Adelina Dabu
Adelina Dabu is a member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), and Director of European and International Affairs at the Concordia Employers' Confederation in Romania where she coordinates the representation with European and international institutions and partner organizations, is the permanent delegate to BUSINESSEUROPE and liaison for BIAC and IOE. She is member of the Management Board of Eurofound on behalf of Romanian employers.
Adelina ensures Concordia's representation in external relations and covers all thematic areas, with in-depth expertise being social dialogue and labor markets, circular economy and sustainability and digitalization. Adelina has over 14 years of experience in the field of public policy, stakeholder management, and political risk, in the energy industry and FMCG at national and international level.
She is member of the Board of Short Food Supply Chain Association, and member of the Circular Economy Coalition in Romania.
Adelina studied political science, economics, European affairs and anthropology in Bucharest and Bologna and is also trained in circular economy and systems thinking. She was a facilitator, mentor and trainer for multiple projects aiming to develop human-centered and sustainable solutions to address climate-related societal challenges.
Moderator
JUDr. Ing. Matej Šebesta, PhD., is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of European Law, Faculty of Law, Comenius University Bratislava, and also practises as an attorney. His research focuses on European Union internal market law and investment protection. In his legal practice, he specialises in company law, advising foreign investors. He teaches courses in European Union law. He also serves as Chair of the Society for International and European Studies, established at the Faculty of Law of Comenius University as an organisation supporting discussion on current issues of European and international law.
Panel Discussion III
A World Governed by Regulations: How Global Regulatory Frameworks Shape Business
12.00 – 13.00
This international panel discussion will explore the impact of environmental regulatory frameworks on the global business environment. Through a comparative analysis of the approaches adopted by the European Union, the United States, and the People’s Republic of China, the discussion will examine how different regulatory strategies influence corporate competitiveness, international trade, and the investment climate. The panel will offer a broader perspective on current trends in environmental regulation and their implications for businesses operating in an increasingly interconnected global economy. Particular emphasis will be placed on the relevance of these developments for Slovak companies competing in international markets and navigating a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.
Zhang Hua
Dean of the Department of International Law (China Foreign Affairs University).
Ph.D in Law – International Law School (China University of Political Science and Law).
Main Research Fields: International Trade Law, International Financial Law, International Economic Law, Maritime Law.
Peter Stano
Peter Stano comes from Martin, Slovakia. He graduated from the Faculty of Arts of Comenius University in Bratislava with a degree in Journalism.
From 1994 to 2009, he worked in the media sector (Slovak Radio in Bratislava, Deutsche Welle in Cologne, BBC World Service in London, and Slovak Television in Bratislava) ako zahranično-politický redaktor a moderátor, ako novinár na voľnej nohe pôsobil v roku 2008 v sýrskom Damasku.
Since 2009, he has been active in diplomacy and public service. He joined the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, where he served as the Minister’s Spokesperson during two terms of office and later as the Special Envoy for Migration. He was posted to the Permanent Representation of the Slovak Republic to the European Union in Brussels and to the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Beirut, with responsibilities covering Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. Peter Stano has worked twice at the European Commission as the first and, to date, the only Slovak citizen to serve as a Commission spokesperson. He first held the position of Spokesperson for Enlargement and the European Neighbourhood Policy from 2011 to 2014, and later served as Lead Spokesperson for the European Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy from 2019 to 2024.
He is fluent in German, English, Spanish, French, and Croatian, and is also conversational in Russian and Arabic.
Bruno Štefánik
Bruno Štefánik is a partner at the Bratislava office of Wolf Theiss, where he heads the Corporate and M&A practice groups. He specializes in all aspects of transactions, including acquisitions, project development, commercial law, financing, and regulatory matters. He regularly provides expert advice on both domestic and international transactions, including acquisitions in the industrial sector and renewable energy assets. Bruno also possesses extensive experience in the automotive sector, including advising on motor vehicle distribution and regulatory aspects of the automotive industry.
Moderator
Ondrej Blažo graduated from the Faculty of Law at Comenius University in Bratislava and the Faculty of National Economy at the University of Economics in Bratislava. He is a professor of international law specializing in EU law, EU competition law, and economic integration; he currently serves as the Director of the Institute of European Law and Editor-in-Chief of the Bratislava Law Review.
He previously worked at the Antimonopoly Office of the Slovak Republic as a case handler and later in departments responsible for legislation, legal affairs, and European and international relations (co-authoring several legislative documents regarding Slovak competition rules). He has authored and co-authored publications focusing primarily on competition law, EU competition law, and EU public procurement law, including a commentary on the Slovak Act on the Protection of Competition. His research has been supported by national and international grants, including the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence grant "Rule of Law in the European Union," and APVV grants titled "Efficiency of Public Procurement Legislation and Its Application in the Context of EU Law" (as principal investigator) and "Efficiency of Competition Protection Legislation in the Context of Its Practical Application." From February 2016 to October 2024, he served as Vice-Dean for Education (covering the first and second levels of university studies).
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
14.00 – Discussions in Professional Sections
18.00 – Gala Reception at Hotel Devín
(Street: Riečna 4, 811 02 Bratislava)
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