Report of the EU VALUES Conference in Istanbul: The European Union's External Action - EU-Values in Policy Making
Location: Minerva Han, Sabancı University, Istanbul, Türkiye
Dates: 30 June - 2 July 2025
The EU-VALUES International Conference on “The European Union's External Action: EU-Values in Policy Making" brought together 65 academics, policymakers, and network members from 16 countries. Over the course of one keynote speech, two roundtables, two workshops and nine panels, a range of critical issues related to promoting and protecting human rights in EU external action, and the perception of EU actions in this regard by non-European actors. The event was hosted by Sabancı University and the Istanbul Policy Center, providing a platform for dialogue and collaboration across continents.
DAY 1 - 30 June 2025
Day 1 of the event focused mainly on the EU-VALUES activities. The opening session was the workshop titled “Youth, Democracy and Public Policy,” which attracted EU-VALUES members, international conference participants, and graduate students based in Istanbul from across disciplines. The workshop was chaired by Professor Meltem Müftüler-Baç from Sabancı University and featured three prominent speakers. Lilliard Richardson from Pennsylvania State University began the session by discussing how fundamental EU values—particularly democracy—can be integrated into the teaching of public policy. He emphasized the importance of simulations and experiential learning as essential tools for engaging students and deepening their understanding of democratic principles in practice.
Following this, Radosław Markowski from SWPS University in Warsaw presented his latest research in a talk titled “Youth as a Minority.” He argued that young people’s voices are likely to be increasingly marginalized in political processes in the years ahead. His talk explored the systemic factors behind this trend and proposed potential solutions for ensuring greater youth inclusion in policy making. The session concluded with a presentation by Berk Esen from Sabancı University, who examined the role of youth as democratic actors in competitive authoritarian regimes. He highlighted the ways in which young people mobilize, resist, and challenge authoritarian practices, even in highly constrained political environments.
The second workshop of the day focused on academic opportunities and was specifically designed for Turkish students and scholars. Titled “Studying Abroad and EU Research Funding for Turkey and the Middle East,” the session provided practical guidance on accessing international education and research support. The first speaker, Philip De Man from KU Leuven, gave an informative presentation outlining academic mobility opportunities within the European Union. He provided insights into the various funding programs and institutional pathways available for scholars from the region. Professor Meltem Müftüler-Baç then followed by introducing Sabancı University and explaining the range of funding mechanisms available within Turkey to support both domestic and international research efforts. Samet Apaydın, also from Sabancı University, contributed by elaborating on specific programs accessible to Turkish students and researchers, offering a practical perspective on navigating institutional frameworks and grant systems. The workshop concluded with a talk by Emre Amasyalı from the Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals (IBEI), who shared his personal experience as a Turkish student and later scholar working outside of Turkey.
Following the two workshops, the EU-VALUES team convened for its Second General Assembly, chaired by Project Manager Adam Holesch and supported by Communication Officer Emily Jones. The session began with an extended introduction round aimed at strengthening team cohesion and fostering a collaborative spirit within the network. Emily Jones then presented the main communication outputs produced so far, which include webinars, podcasts, and videos, showcasing the project's growing outreach and visibility. Subsequently, Adam Holesch shared the results of the first round of the Expert Survey on Democracy and Human Rights in EU’s External Policy and presented the mid-term report on partner contributions, providing a clear overview of the project's current progress.
Looking ahead, he outlined plans for the second round of the Expert Survey and introduced the outline for an EU-VALUES book, consisting of 21 chapters on Global and European Values which will be developed in the next year. The agenda also included a presentation by Philip De Man (KUL) on the planned development of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), which will serve as a tool for broader educational outreach. Tirta Nugraha Mursitama from BINUS concluded the planning segment with an update on preparations for the upcoming EU-VALUES Conference in Jakarta, scheduled for 8–10 December 2025. The assembly ended with an open Q&A and discussion session, allowing participants to raise additional points and exchange ideas for future collaboration. Day 1 finished with a small workshop dinner for the EU-VALUES members.
DAY 2 - 1 July 2025
The EU-VALUES International Conference officially commenced on Day 1 in the elegant Cashier Lounge of the Minerva Han building in Istanbul, with the introduction of the EU-VALUES Jean Monnet Network by Adam Holesch (IBEI) and Philip De Man (KUL). Following this, Professor Jan Wouters (KUL) delivered the conference keynote lecture on “Critical Reflections on the European Union as a Global Rights Actor.” In his address, Wouters acknowledged the EU’s strong rhetorical and institutional commitment to human rights, particularly since the Lisbon Treaty, and its active presence in multilateral fora such as the United Nations. However, he also raised questions about the extent to which these commitments are consistently translated into practice. Wouters highlighted the structural limitations of the EU’s legal competences in the human rights domain, and observed that economic and political interests often take precedence. Instruments such as human rights clauses in international agreements and the EU’s action plans on human rights and democracy are important tools, but their implementation, he suggested, tends to be cautious and uneven.
Wouters also reflected on specific policy areas—migration, energy cooperation, and strategic partnerships—where human rights considerations appear to have been subordinated to other priorities. He underscored the need for greater coherence between the EU’s normative commitments and its external actions, especially in a rapidly changing global context. Concluding, Wouters called for stronger accountability mechanisms within both the EU and international legal frameworks. He encouraged academic and civil society engagement to help ensure that the EU’s global human rights ambitions are matched by effective and principled action, and stressed the importance of critical reflection in helping the Union live up to its foundational values.
The first panel of the conference, Panel I: Human Rights and EU External Action, was chaired by Maria Lisa Öberg (Lund University). The panel brought together a diverse set of perspectives on the EU’s role in promoting human rights through its external actions. Axel Marx (KUL) opened the session with a presentation titled “Strengthening the Implementation and Monitoring of Labour Rights Commitments in EU Free Trade Agreements: What Role for Roadmaps?” His talk explored the practical tools available to reinforce labour rights within EU trade policy, focusing on the use of roadmaps as a mechanism to enhance compliance and accountability.
This was followed by Oliver Mader from DAI, who delivered a presentation on “Export of EU Fundamental Values in External Action: A Plea for Consistency.” The panel concluded with a collaborative presentation by Senem Aydın-Düzgit (Sabancı University, Istanbul Policy Center), Şebnem Gümüşçü (Middlebury College), and Berk Esen (Sabancı University), titled “EU Democracy Support in the Trump Era.” The presenters examined how shifts in global democratic leadership during the Trump administration affected the EU’s democracy promotion strategies and external legitimacy, offering a critical reflection on the challenges and adaptations required in such a geopolitical climate.
The afternoon session continued with two parallel panels. The second panel, Panel II: Gender and EU Values, was chaired by Professor Meltem Müftüler-Baç (Sabancı University). The panel addressed critical intersections between gender, sexuality, and European Union values, drawing on both empirical research and theoretical insights. The first presentation, delivered jointly by Oya Yeğen, Zeynep Gülru Göker, and Meriç Çağlar from Sabancı University, was titled “Gender Equality and the European Social Contract: Challenges, Divergences and Prospects.” The speakers explored how gender equality is framed within the evolving European social contract, examining tensions between normative commitments and political realities across different member states.
Next, Sebastián Fuentes from CONICET/FLACSO offered a transregional perspective with his talk “Diplomacy and Gender Between the European Union and Argentina: Sustaining the Sexual Minorities’ Rights Agenda in Neoconservative Contexts.” Fuentes analyzed how the EU engages diplomatically with Latin American partners, particularly Argentina, to uphold sexual minority rights amid growing neoconservative resistance. Paula Sandrin from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro followed with a presentation entitled “Human Rights, Gender, and Sexuality: The Contradictory Politics of the European Far Right.” Her intervention unpacked the complex and often paradoxical positions of far-right political actors who simultaneously instrumentalize and undermine gender and human rights discourses. The panel concluded with Assylzat Karabayeva from KIMEP University, who presented “The Limits of EU Human Rights Policies in Kazakhstan: The Role of Intergenerational Trauma in Sustaining Domestic Violence.” Her research examined the persistence of domestic violence in Kazakhstan, arguing that historical trauma plays a significant role in hindering the effectiveness of EU-promoted human rights norms in the region.
Running concurrently with Panel II, Panel III: Human Rights and Migration was chaired by Adam Holesch from IBEI. The panel explored the implications of EU external action on migration governance, with a focus on border externalization, human rights, and democratic accountability. The first presentation was delivered by Mansah Amoah from the University of Pretoria’s Centre for Human Rights, titled “Externalised EU Borders and Repressive Partnerships: Pathways to Mitigation and Accountability.” Amoah critically examined how the EU’s external border policies have often relied on cooperation with authoritarian or repressive regimes, raising profound concerns regarding accountability and compliance with human rights standards. Following this, Beken Saatçioğlu (MEF University) presented research on “The EU’s Migration Deals with Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt: Prioritizing Migration Control over Democracy.” Her analysis highlighted the trade-offs made by the EU in favor of short-term migration deterrence, often at the expense of supporting democratic norms and actors in its partner countries. The presentation sparked discussion on how migration policies can be reconciled with the EU’s normative commitments. The session concluded with a contribution from Patricia Porto de Barros Ayaz from Dalhousie University, who presented on “EU External Action and Border Externalization: The 2016 Türkiye-EU Agreement Nearing Its Ten-Year Mark.” Her intervention assessed the long-term impacts and unintended consequences of the agreement.
Panel IV: Human Rights, Artificial Intelligence, and Big Data was the first of two parallel sessions on the same topic, and explored how recent EU regulatory developments are reshaping the landscape of digital governance with human rights at the core. Annegret Engel (Lund University) analyzed the EU’s transition from a deregulatory approach to a rights-conscious digital market framework, emphasizing the external reach of regulations like the DSA, DMA, and AI Act. Her presentation underscored how these laws may extend EU standards globally through mechanisms like trade agreements and direct enforcement powers, though not without legal and political challenges. Joëlle Hivonnet (Independent Scholar) complemented this by examining the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act as a potential bulwark against human rights erosion in an age of global techno-authoritarianism. She stressed that the Act’s extraterritorial ambition and rights-based design offer a unique model amid the competing technocratic (US) and statist (China) AI paradigms, though its effectiveness depends on political will, enforcement, and closing remaining regulatory gaps.
Radu Mares (Raoul Wallenberg Institute) expanded the conversation by focusing on the EU Green Deal as a “regulatory revolution,” where human rights and sustainability goals are increasingly operationalized through a complex interplay of due diligence laws, digital tools, and global standards. He introduced the concept of a “layered smart mix” to describe the integration of legal mandates, voluntary standards, and digital infrastructures to manage global value chains. The subsequent discussion highlighted how the EU’s legislative agenda is deliberately embedding extraterritoriality—not only through formal mechanisms like trade agreements but also via expectations of regulatory emulation. Participants debated the political and legal feasibility of this model, raising concerns about coherence, global legitimacy, and the adaptability of EU law in fast-evolving technological and geopolitical contexts.
In parallel, Panel V: Human Rights, Artificial Intelligence, and Big Data (2) was chaired by Oya Yeğen from Sabancı University. This panel examined the evolving interface between technological governance, digital rights, and the European Union’s normative and regulatory role in global affairs. The session began with Juhi Khetan from the Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Peace Studies, who presented “Regulatory Frontiers: The EU AI Act and Its Global Implications for Human Rights and Technology Governance.” Khetan provided a comprehensive overview of the EU’s proposed Artificial Intelligence Act, highlighting its potential to set global standards in ethical AI development and its implications for safeguarding fundamental rights beyond European borders.
The second presentation, “When Code Turns Racist: The EU’s Role in Reinforcing Digital Discrimination,” was delivered jointly by Paula Ulysses de Moraes Torracca and Zhaoxuan Yuan from the Hertie School. Their talk examined algorithmic bias and discriminatory outcomes embedded in digital systems, raising critical questions about the EU’s responsibility in both perpetuating and addressing these forms of digital inequality through policy and regulation.
Next, Thomas Aubineau from the European Parliament discussed “The EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) as a Catalyst for Strengthening the UN Human Rights System.” Aubineau argued that the CSDDD could play a transformative role in bridging corporate accountability and international human rights norms, positioning the EU as a driving force in reshaping global governance frameworks around business and human rights.
The panel concluded with Gurkan Capar from Maynooth University, who presented “The EU’s (Strategic) Digital Sovereignty: From Normative to Regulatory Power?” Capar critically explored the EU’s shift from soft power narratives of normative leadership to a more assertive regulatory stance in digital sovereignty. His analysis placed this transformation within the broader context of geopolitical competition and EU ambitions to shape the digital order.
The first day of the EU-VALUES International Conference concluded with an engaging roundtable discussion titled “Global Values, Human Rights and EU Leadership.” The event took place in the Cashier’s Lounge and was chaired by Professor Jacint Jordana from Universitat Pompeu Fabra – IBEI. This roundtable brought together distinguished scholars from across the globe to reflect on the European Union’s role in promoting human rights and global values amidst shifting geopolitical landscapes. The conversation revolved around the EU's capacity to maintain its normative leadership in an increasingly multipolar and contested international environment.
Bela Sukmawani from BINUS University offered insights from Southeast Asia, emphasizing the diverse interpretations of universal values across different regional contexts and how EU external action is perceived in that light. Ramin Jahanbegloo from Jindal Global University contributed with reflections on the philosophical underpinnings of human rights discourse and the ethical challenges facing liberal democracies. Maiko Ichihara from Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo addressed the tensions between rising authoritarianism in Asia and the EU’s strategies for values-based diplomacy, while Axel Marx from KU Leuven stressed the need for consistency and coherence in the EU’s value promotion strategies, particularly in trade and development partnerships. Anne McNaughton from the Australian National University provided a perspective from the Pacific region, reflecting on the EU's legal-institutional export and its role in shaping international governance standards. The roundtable underscored the importance of cross-regional dialogue and mutual learning in advancing the shared commitment to human rights and democratic norms, and served as a fitting close to a thought-provoking first day of the conference.
On Day 2 of the conference, the Project Coordinator Professor Jacint Jordana led a Gender Equality and Editorial Board Meeting in order to check the progress of the project.
DAY 3 - 2 July 2025
The third day of the EU-VALUES International Conference opened with Roundtable II: Turkish–European Union Relations, a timely and focused discussion on the evolving dynamics between Turkey and the European Union. The session was chaired by Professor Meltem Müftüler-Baç from Sabancı University. The roundtable featured leading experts on EU–Turkey relations. Senem Aydın-Düzgit from Sabancı University and Director of the Istanbul Policy Center (IPC), offered insights into the current state of political and institutional ties between Turkey and the EU, addressing key issues such as democratic backsliding, migration cooperation, and the stalled accession process. Çiğdem Nas, Director of the Economic Development Foundation (IKV), reflected on the role of civil society and economic actors in shaping EU–Turkey engagement, highlighting the importance of trade relations and the modernization of the Customs Union. Münevver Cebeci from Marmara University provided an academic perspective on Turkey’s normative positioning vis-à-vis the EU, questioning whether value-based alignment is feasible or desirable in the current geopolitical context.
Panel VI of the EU-VALUES International Conference addressed the theme of human rights, trade, and border governance in the European Union’s external actions. The session was chaired by Professor Jacint Jordana from Universitat Pompeu Fabra – IBEI. The panel featured four presentations. Ivana Damjanovic and Ottavio Quirico, both from the Australian National University, presented “Climate Rights as Human Rights in the EU External Policy?” in which they discussed how climate-related issues are framed within the broader human rights agenda of the EU’s external policies. Yuki Moritani from Hitotsubashi University followed with a presentation titled “Less Prioritizing the Value of Human Rights?: The Consideration of the EU–Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement from the Japanese Perspective.” This presentation focused on the role of human rights in the EU–Japan partnership and examined how these values are perceived from a Japanese perspective.
The third presentation, delivered by Katarzyna Kwapisz Williams from the Australian National University, was titled “The Wall with a View of Europe: Civil Society Organizations’ Response to the EU–Belarus Border Crisis.” It addressed the reactions of civil society organizations to developments at the EU’s eastern border. The session concluded with a joint presentation by Miranda P. Tahalele and Sukmawani Bella Pertiwi, in a paper co-authored with Tirta Nugraha from BINUS University. Their presentation, titled “EU Development Cooperation in Indonesia: Policy, Program and its Implementation,” examined the EU’s development cooperation activities in Indonesia, with a focus on the implementation of policies and the structure of cooperation programs.
Panel VII of the EU-VALUES International Conference, titled “A Critical View of EU Values in European External Relations”, was chaired by Alper Kaliber from the Istanbul Policy Center and brought together a series of presentations offering critical perspectives on how EU values are interpreted, implemented, and challenged in external relations and legal frameworks. İpek Zeynep Ruacan from Yeditepe University’s European Studies Institute opened the panel with a presentation titled “Normative Power or Armchair Diplomacy: A Critical Appraisal of the EU’s Unilateral Sanctions Regimes.” Her talk examined the effectiveness and coherence of the EU’s use of unilateral sanctions, questioning whether these measures reflect genuine normative influence or serve as symbolic gestures lacking concrete impact. Emre Amasyalı from IBEI followed with a presentation entitled “Negotiating Diversity: EU Accession and the Shifting Terrain of Language Policy,” which explored how the EU’s enlargement process has influenced language policy in candidate countries, focusing on the negotiation of cultural and linguistic diversity as a key component of accession. Rahul Desarda from Jindal Global University then presented “The European Court of Human Rights: A Critical Foundation of Global Human Rights Jurisprudence,” highlighting the Court’s role in shaping international human rights law and discussing its connection to broader EU value promotion in external relations. The final presentation, “International Human Rights Law in Central Asia and Its Correlation with the EU Values and Diplomacy,” was delivered by Rustam Atadjnov from KIMEP University. His contribution examined the alignment and tensions between international human rights law in Central Asian contexts and the normative frameworks advanced by EU diplomatic efforts in the region.
Panel VIII, titled “Human Rights and EU Enlargement,” was chaired by Axel Marx from KU Leuven. The panel focused on the evolving role of human rights in the context of the European Union’s enlargement strategy, particularly in relation to recent geopolitical developments. The first presentation, delivered by Seckin Barış Gülmez from KIMEP University, was titled “A Strategic Positioning or Radical Normative Shift? A Role Theory Perspective to the EU’s Enlargement to Ukraine.” His presentation explored the EU’s enlargement policy toward Ukraine through the lens of role theory, questioning whether the shift represents a fundamental change in normative orientation or a strategic recalibration. Petar Bacić from the University of Split followed with a presentation titled “Human Rights in the EU Enlargement Process,” which examined the institutional and political mechanisms by which human rights are embedded into enlargement conditionality and monitored throughout the accession process. The final presentation, “Nihilistic Responsibility in EU Enlargement: Ontological Security, Value-Based Action, and Strategic Ambiguity,” was given by Erman Ermihan from Kadir Has University.
The last session of the EU-VALUES International Conference, Panel IX, was titled “Human Rights and EU’s External Action” and was chaired by Ivana Damjanovic from the Australian National University. It included four presentations. Sukmawani Bela Pertiwi from BINUS University presented a co-authored paper with Aloysius Benediktus Armando Jahang on “EU’s Norm Diffusion of Capital Punishment in the Post-2015 ASEAN Community’s Southeast Asia.” Their presentation addressed the topic of capital punishment in Southeast Asia in relation to EU external action after 2015. Amit Upadhyay and Abhinav Mehrotra from Jindal Global University gave a presentation titled “Human Rights Protection in Europe After Russia’s Expulsion: Legal Challenges, EU Accountability, and Alternative Avenues for Justice.” The presentation dealt with human rights protection mechanisms in Europe following Russia’s expulsion. Aylin Poroy Arsoy from Uludağ University presented the results of “Embedding EU Values in Higher Education: Insights from the EmbED-EU Erasmus+ Project.” Her contribution concerned the EmbED-EU Erasmus+ Project and its focus on EU values in higher education. The final presentation, “Do Women Legislators Represent Disadvantaged Groups More Strongly? Chile in Comparative Perspective,” was given by Ricardo Javier Gamboa Valenzuela from the University of Chile. The presentation addressed the representation of disadvantaged groups by women legislators, with a focus on Chile and comparative analysis.
The EU-VALUES International Conference concluded with a final closing session, led by Adam Holesch from Universitat Pompeu Fabra and IBEI, Axel Marx from KU Leuven, and Professor Meltem Müftüler-Baç from Sabancı University. The closing remarks brought together reflections on the themes discussed throughout the three-day conference, presenting the ongoing dissemination activities—such as blogs, videos, and podcasts - to which a number of speakers contributed through recorded interviews and discussions with Emily Jones (IBEI), offering insights into their presentations and ongoing research. These sessions captured some of the brilliant exchanges of ideas presented during the conference and will be featured in the EU-VALUES podcast and video series - a key component of the project’s outreach efforts beyond the academic setting. These outputs will follow the event.
