Call for Papers: Conference on ‘The EU at a Crossroads: Upholding Peace, Freedom and Multilateralism in a Changing World’

Written By EU-VALUES NETWORK

9-10 December 2025, BINUS University | Jakarta, Indonesia 

The EU Research and Education Network on Foreign Policy Issues: Values and Democracy (EU-VALUES) invites scholars, researchers, and professionals from around the world to submit proposals for presentations at the international conference “The EU at a Crossroads: Upholding Peace, Freedom and Multilateralism in a Changing World'  taking place on 9 and 10 December 2025 at BINUS University in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Conference Scope and Themes

We welcome submissions from different disciplines, including political science, international relations, law, economics, sociology, etc. on the following topics:  We particularly encourage comparative Asian and other regional perspectives on these topics, in addition to global views. 

1. EU and the principles of international law

  • How is the EU contributing to the enforcement and promotion of international humanitarian law in the context of contemporary armed conflicts?

  • How is the EU navigating the relationship between its foundational values and the complexities of international security engagement, especially in contexts involving non-state actors or governments with contested human rights records?

  • To what extent have EU delegations and CSDP missions been effective in supporting the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC)? 

  • What mechanisms or strategies could enhance the parliamentary scrutiny and accountability of EU foreign and security policy instruments to better ensure their compliance with IHL and global values?

2. Strengthening Multilateralism and Democratic Values: The EU’s Engagement with Global Institutions 

  • How are recent EU strategies  shaping the Union’s role and identity in global governance?

  • In what ways do the EU’s sectoral and regional strategies reflect coherence—or fragmentation—in its external action across different policy domains?

  • How do EU strategies navigate the tension between normative ambitions and geopolitical pragmatism in world affairs?

  • What patterns of continuity or innovation can be observed in the EU’s strategic vision since the Lisbon Treaty, and how are these influencing its international partnerships?

  • How is the EU engaging with global security institutions?

3. The EU’s Role in the Times of War 

  • How has the EU’s response to Russia’s invasion been perceived across different regions of the world? What are the implications for the EU’s credibility and self-image as a normative power?

  • What about EU’s role in other conflicts such as Israels conflict with Iran?  

  • How have new instruments and initiatives—such as the European Peace Facility (EPF) and the European Defence Fund (EDF)—reshaped the EU’s capacity as a security actor and crisis manager?

  • In what ways have new security agreements with partners such as Moldova, Norway, Japan, and Ukraine, alongside the Joint Security Commitments, contributed to further integration within the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP)?

  • What is the role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Asia? What does it mean for the EU? 

4. Navigating the Climate-Migration-Security Nexus: Approaches to Interconnected Global Threats 

  • How is the EU conceptualizing and operationalizing resilience in response to the intertwined challenges of security, climate change and migration?

  • How is the EU navigating tensions between its normative commitments and the realities of engaging with partner countries affected by climate-related pressures?

  • What roles do EU-led initiatives and partnerships play in shaping cooperative approaches to complex and overlapping transnational threats?

5. Shifting multilateral economic order: Trade and Investment 

  • How is the EU’s strategic approach to trade and investment shaping its broader engagement with a shifting multilateral economic order?

  • In what ways are the EU’s trade and investment strategies navigating the balance between openness, sustainability, resilience, and geopolitical competition?

  • How is the EU responding to the fragmentation of global economic governance through its bilateral and interregional agreements?

  • What role does the EU play in promoting global standards on labor rights, environmental sustainability, and investment protection through its trade instruments?

  • How are normative ambitions—such as democracy, human rights, and environmental protection—reconciled with economic interests in the EU’s trade policy?

  • What does the EU’s evolving trade and investment relationship with Indonesia reveal about its broader strategy toward Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific?

  • To what extent do EU’s comprehensive partnerships represent the balance of interest between Europe and global south?

6. EU’s Strategy in the Indopacific

  • How does the EU manage diverging interests among its member states in the Indo-Pacific?

  • How do European values and Asian values contribute to shape the dynamics of EU-ASEAN and EU bilateral cooperation with Indo-Pacific countries?

  • What roles does the EU play in promoting peace, freedom, and multilateralism in the Indo-Pacific?

  • To what extent does the EU engage with Indopacific countries in the implementation of its Indopacific strategy?

Submission Guidelines

Please submit your abstract via this Google Form by 5 September 2025.

Abstracts should be no longer than 300 words, and include a title, research objectives, methodology, key findings, and relevance to the conference theme. Abstracts should be accompanied with a short bio of the author(s) and their institutional affiliation.

Submissions should align with the conference theme and contribute to the ongoing academic debate. All submissions will be peer-reviewed, and selected papers will be invited for full presentation at the conference.

Should you have questions about the conference, please write to euvalues@ibei.org

Organizing committee

  • Sukmawani Bela Pertiwi (Binus University)

  • Tirta Nugraha Mursitama (Binus University)

  • Miranda Paulina Sari Tahalele (Binus University)

  • Jacint Jordana, Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals (IBEI)

  • Adam Holesch,  Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals (IBEI)

Important Dates

  • Abstract Submission Deadline: 5 September 2025

  • Notification of Acceptance: 15 September 2025

  • Conference Dates: 9 – 10 December 2025

Publication Opportunities

Selected papers will be considered for publication in a special journal issue or an edited volume compiled by the conference organizers. Further information will be provided during the conference.

Venue

The conference will be held at the facilities of the BINUS university in Jakarta. Participation to the conference is free, but all other expenses, including travel and accommodation, will be the responsibility of the conference participants.

You can download this Call in PDF, here.

 
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