The School of Law of the University of Central Lancashire, Cyprus and the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence for the Rule of Law and European Values (CRoLEV), co-funded by the European Union and running at UCLan Cyprus for the period 2022-2025, held their third annual CRoLEV School for researchers, CSO representatives and advanced students, this time in the form of a Winter School on the 7^th and 8^th of February 2025. The Winter School took place in person on the UCLan Cyprus campus. The CRoLEV Winter School, this year focusing on themes related to conflicts and post-conflict environments, was supported by Civic Space and promoted excellence in teaching and research and fostered dialogue among the participants.

The CRoLEV Winter School brought together advanced students, researchers in various fields, representatives of the civil society and legal and other professionals who enjoyed a series of diverse sessions on many interesting topics. Following a Welcome Address by Professor Stéphanie Laulhé Shaelou, Head of Law School and Professor of EU Law and Reform, School of Law, UCLan Cyprus and CRoLEV Director, the first workshop was delivered by Prof. James Ker-Lindsay who discussed the root causes of conflicts. Discussing examples from around the world, Prof. Ker-Lindsay provided valuable insight on the various causes of conflicts. The second workshop delivered by Professor Eiki Berg, Professor of International Relations Theory, University of Tartu, Estonia addressed ‘What Trajectories Conflicts Might Take’. The workshop proposed ways to taxonomise the different types of conflicts and inspired fascinating discussions with the participants.

The second day of the Winter School commenced with a workshop by Prof. Ker-Lindsay on ‘Success and Failure of Containing Secessionists’. The thought-provoking discussion attempted to identify different ways in which states have sought to contain secessionist movements. That workshop dovetailed with the next workshop, delivered by Prof. Berg, which dealt with ‘Success and Failure of Engaging Secessionists’. In that discussion, Prof. Berg analysed the various methods through which states have engaged with secessionist movements, often seeking to avoid acting in ways that would signal their recognition of the secessionist claims. After the lunch break, Dr Athanasia Hadjigeorgiou, Associate Professor in Transitional Justice and Human Rights and Deputy Head of the School of Law delivered a workshop on ‘Transitional Justice Paving Road to the Peace’. The Winter School then concluded with a Roundtable Discussion on ‘Conflict-driven Challenges for Future EU Enlargement’ (powered by Civic Space). The discussants, Prof. Ker-Lindsay, Prof. Berg, and Dr Hadjigeorgiou engaged the audience in a fascinating exchange about the challenges for future EU enlargement.

Many thanks go to the CRoLEV and Civic Space Team for their hard work in organising the Winter School. We also like to thank our guest contributors and all participants for their commitment and their valuable participation throughout the various sessions and activities of those events. In addition to the various presentations, further material were distributed to participants including videos that prepared the ground for the discussion. All other material from the Winter School will also become available here.