European Integration and the Development of Private International Law: Participation of the Department of Private International Law of the Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations in the X Kharkiv International Legal Forum

On 23 September 2026, faculty members of the Department of Private International Law of the Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations took part in the X Kharkiv International Legal Forum. The Department was represented by Hennadii Tsirat, Head of the Department of Private International Law, Doctor of Law and Associate Professor; Oleksandr Biriukov, Professor at the Department, Doctor of Law and Professor; Viktor Kalakura, Associate Professor at the Department, PhD in Legal Sciences and Associate Professor; and Viktoriia Khomenko, Assistant Professor at the Department and PhD in Legal Sciences.

The Department co-organised the panel discussion “Private International Law in the Context of Aligning Ukrainian Legislation with EU Law”. The discussion addressed not only the alignment of Ukrainian legislation with the EU acquis, but also the challenge of taking into account the continuing evolution of EU law itself.

Hennadii Tsirat drew attention to a conceptual challenge of European integration in the field of international civil procedure: Ukraine is expected to align its legislation, in particular, with Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters — the Brussels I bis Regulation — while the EU itself is already reviewing this instrument. In effect, Ukraine is seeking to align its legislation with a “moving target”; it is therefore important not only to implement the rules currently in force, but also to follow the direction of their development and participate in the relevant professional discussions.

Oleksandr Biriukov addressed the reform of Ukrainian bankruptcy legislation and emphasised that EU rules should not simply be transferred into national law, but properly integrated into the domestic legal system. This issue has become particularly relevant in light of new EU instruments in the field of insolvency, including Directive (EU) 2026/799, which require not merely formal harmonisation but effective and coherent transposition.

Viktor Kalakura focused on the further development of Ukrainian private international law in the context of European integration. One of the key points concerned the need for systemic rather than fragmented legislative reform: European integration should contribute to the development of a coherent framework of private international law rather than result in a series of isolated amendments.

Viktoriia Khomenko examined the boundaries of lex societatis — the law governing the status and internal affairs of a legal entity. Where does the scope of that law end once a company enters into external legal relations? Recent case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union shows that even a person’s status as a company director does not, by itself, determine the applicable legal regime: the source and nature of the relevant obligation are decisive. In the absence of a single EU “Rome Companies” instrument, defining the boundaries of lex societatis requires careful consideration of comparative European approaches and CJEU case law.

The presentations prompted lively professional discussion among the participants of the panel.

You can watch the recording of the panel discussion here.