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EU Risk Regulation and EU Agencies

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On Wednesday 26 November from 14:00 to 15:30 the Maastricht Centre for European Law (MCEL) will welcome the former Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Dr. Bernhard Url for a presentation on The Role of Science in EU Risk Regulation. His presentation is followed by the launch of the EU Agencies Corner, a blog post series of the Review of European Administrative Law (REALaw).

From 16:00 to 17:30, MCEL organises together with Studio Europa Maastricht, a public debate on What’s on Europe’s Plate? Science, Policy and the Future of Food. This debate explores how European citizens’ diets are shaped by science, policy, and technological innovation. Featuring experts and regulators, including insights from Dr Bernhard Url and the Director General of the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), Dr. Agustín Reyna, we’ll discuss how food safety is regulated in Brussels, the role of science in policymaking, and the challenges of consumer trust. 

Programme

14:00 – 14:05 Welcome
Prof. dr. J. Smits, Dean of the Law faculty, Maastricht University
14:05 – 14:10Opening
Prof. dr. E. Vos, Maastricht University
14:10 – 14:40The Role of Science in EU Risk Regulation
Dr. B. Url, former Executive Director of the European food safety Authority (EFSA)
14:40 – 15:05Discussion
15:05 – 15:15Launch of the EU Agencies Corner, blog post series of the Review 
of European Administrative Law (REALaw)
Prof. dr. M. Eliantonio, Maastricht University, General Editor of REALaw
15:15 - 15:30

The European Union Agencies Network (EUAN), 
Dr. A. Mitrakas, Head of Cabinet, Office Executive Director of 
the EU Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA)

15:30 –16:00 Break
Coffee, tea & vlaai

Public debate: What’s on Europe’s plate? Science, policy, and the future of food

How does Brussels regulate what Europeans eat and how much say do citizens have in what ends up on their plates? The landscape of food safety in the EU remains complex, sparking legal, scientific, and public debates about risk regulation, and consumer trust. By bringing together regulators, food experts, and civil society representatives, we will explore how European citizens’ diets are shaped by science, policy, and technological innovation, and reflect on what constitutes safe and sustainable food for the future.

Speakers: 

  • Lizet Kruyff – food historian

  • Dr. Bernard Url – former Executive Director of EFSA 

  • Dr. Agustín Reyna – Director General of BEUC, the European Consumer Organisation

  • Dr. Alie de Boer - Associate Professor of nutrition and food information, Maastricht University

  • Moderated by Prof. Ellen Vos (Maastricht University) 

Programme

16:00 – 16:20 Opening bite: “What’s on Europe’s plate?” a brief journey through Europe’s 
changing food culture, showing how politics, science, and taste collide.
16:20 – 17:00 Trust on the table: Why do pesticides, additives, and food safety still divide Europe?
17:00 – 17:30Q&A

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