Lavinia S.J. Kortese

Dr. Lavinia S.J. Kortese serves as an Assistant Professor in EU law at the Department of International and European Law within Utrecht University's Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance. Her office is located at the Johanna Hudiggebouw, Achter Sint Pieter 200, 3512 HT Utrecht. She obtained her doctorate from Maastricht University in 2020, focusing on the recognition of qualifications, which established her expertise in EU legal frameworks and policy initiatives applicable across Member States.

Her educational background includes a doctoral degree from Maastricht University (2020) with research centered on recognition of qualifications within the European Union. This foundation has informed her broader expertise in EU internal market law, free movement principles, and the practical implementation of EU directives in national contexts.

Dr. Kortese's research interests span multiple interconnected domains of European law, with particular emphasis on how legal frameworks operate in real-world contexts. She specializes in the EU internal market, focusing on fundamental freedoms, with specific attention to the free movement of persons. Her work on migration law examines the intersection of EU citizenship and national security concerns, as evidenced by her 2022 presentation on nationality and public security. She maintains significant expertise in education law within the EU context, analyzing how academic qualifications are recognized across borders, and has developed specialized knowledge in health law as it intersects with EU regulatory frameworks. A distinctive feature of her approach is her focus on 'law in action'—the practical connection between legal instruments and societal developments.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals consistent thematic focus on EU-UK relations post-Brexit, professional qualifications recognition, and the practical implementation of EU directives. Her work demonstrates growing engagement with contemporary challenges in EU law, particularly regarding the tension between free movement principles and security concerns. The research shows strong methodological consistency in examining how theoretical legal frameworks translate into practical application across different Member States.

Dr. Kortese has participated in significant research activities including a 2016 secondment to the Benelux Secretariat General in Brussels and extensive project research conducted on behalf of European, national, and regional stakeholders. Her work contributes to the Institutions for Open Societies (IOS) research theme at Utrecht University, specifically addressing challenges to openness in higher education contexts.

As part of her professional activities, Dr. Kortese has served as an invited speaker at academic events including the UACES conference in Lille (2022) and has contributed media commentary on EU legal matters. Her research output demonstrates consistent scholarly productivity with 29 documented research items across various formats including journal articles, book chapters, reports, and encyclopedia entries.