The first edition of the EEA Grants Portugal Moot Court took place in Ponte de Lima from the 14th to the 16th of February 2025. This pioneering initiative brought together students, academics, and faculty members from Portugal and Norway—from backgrounds of in Law, Humanities, Political Science, and International Relations—for an international academic experience marked by cooperation and knowledge exchange.
Organised by Sociedade Portuguesa de Direito Internacional (SPDI), in partnership with Innlandet University College, the project sought to achieve the core objectives of the EEA Grants: reducing economic and social disparities and strengthening bilateral relations between Portugal and Norway, through law, education, and competition.
Ponte de Lima, the oldest town in Portugal, welcomed around 50 participants from public universities in Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, and Lillehammer for three intense days of activities. Throughout the initiative, students delved into the EEA Agreement and took part in simulations replicating the functioning of real courts, testing their legal knowledge, argumentation, and teamwork skills.
Prior to the competition, the initiative offered specialised training sessions on the legal systems of the European Union and the EFTA, as well as practical workshops aimed at equipping Norwegian partners with the tools needed to autonomously organise similar competitions in the future. Beyond the academic setting, the event also included cultural activities, such as a guided tour of Ponte de Lima and a local wine tasting, as well as social moments like the final awards ceremony and gala dinner held at a historic hotel in the town.
The hotel’s connection to the regional nobility provided participants with a meaningful immersion in the area’s cultural and historical heritage. Through these elements, the project also aimed to bring visibility to regions with fewer socioeconomic resources and limited experience hosting international initiatives.
This competition was fully funded by the Fund for Bilateral Relations, ensuring the event could take place with all logistical expenses covered. This approach guaranteed equal access for all participants, regardless of their social or economic background. The inclusive model had a significant impact, promoting educational decentralisation and widening academic opportunities for students.
The success of this initiative—and the participation of the top portuguese team and their coaches in a follow-up moot court at the EFTA Court in Oslo—confirmed the potential for continuity. Through the contacts established among participants and institutions, the portuguese delegation’s presence in Oslo further reinforced the project's bilateral dimension and expanded the contact network for future collaborations between Portugal and other EEA states.
The EEA Grants Portugal Moot Court thus demonstrated that legal education can—and should—serve as a driving force for international cooperation, territorial inclusion, and the development of strong academic networks, with real and lasting impact on students' academic journeys and international partnerships.