13th Biennial Conference of the Standing Group on the European Union

About the conference

The 13th Biennial Conference of our Standing Group on the European Union (SGEU) provides an opportunity to share theoretical perspectives and empirical research that shed light on complex EU-related processes.

The 2026 conference in Catania is organised in Sections that address the great diversity of research agendas of EU studies. We welcome researchers from disciplines including political science, history, sociology, law, anthropology, philosophy, geography, and economics to present and discuss cutting-edge research focused on the pressing questions of European integration.

The EU under pressure

In the current era of uncertainty and great power politics, the European Union is confronted with new realities – both internal and external – that at times rise to the level of existential threats.

The rise of radical right populism across its member states, wars along its Eastern and Southern borders, and an increasingly unreliable transatlantic partner under the Donald Trump presidency are among the overlapping crises testing European institutions and policies. Additionally, systemic shifts at the global level – such as the rise of China or the contestation of multilateralism and the Liberal International Order – challenge the EU’s normative foundations and its role as an international power.

This is therefore a critical moment to reflect on the future of European integration: the need for institutional reform, the role the EU may assume within the evolving international (dis)order, and its capacity to strengthen its position on the global stage.

The conference will feature a special plenary session.

The day before the conference, we will hold Early Career Workshops at the same location in Catania. For information, please contact sgeu.ecpr@gmail.com.