Call for Panels and Papers: European Law Unbound Annual Conference, Lisbon, September 1-3, 2026

“Words or Deeds? The European Moment”

Universidade Católica Portuguesa

CONFERENCE THEME

At a time of profound transformation, Europe is navigating the gap between declarations and demonstrations, between articulated values and their practical realization. This year’s European Law Unbound Annual Conference invites scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to examine what might be called “the European moment” – a period characterised by both possibility and precarity, where the discrepancy between institutional rhetoric and concrete action is perhaps more visible and consequential than ever before. We welcome contributions from across the field of ‘Law in Europe’ that help us understand Europe’s contemporary predicaments, which often play out against the backdrop of various legal discourses and arrangements.

The Annual Conference is the central activity of ELU-S. Anyone working in the field of ‘Law in Europe’ broadly conceived can submit individual papers or fully formed panels on any theme or perspective related to ‘Law in Europe’.

This conference seeks to stimulate debate on the role of law in addressing current challenges. We aspire to do so by creating an ‘unbound’ exchange about the future of European law, both organizationally and thematically: everyone who wishes can participate and approach any area of ‘Law in Europe’ from any desired perspective. We look forward to a scholarly debate on the future of Europe that is intergenerational, inclusive, and methodologically diverse.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Five types of submissions are possible: fully formed panels, roundtable discussions, author meets reader sessions, innovative formats sessions, and individual papers. We welcome individual paper submissions but strongly recommend the submission of fully formed panels. The submissions need not be related to the conference theme.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

Everyone is welcome, regardless of career stage, academic interests, or perspective on European law. The only requirement is an interest in law in Europe, be it private law, constitutional law, economic law, criminal law, social law or any other field of law. Participation is not restricted to legal scholars or practitioners. We welcome submissions from scholars from all disciplines (political science, sociology, history, philosophy, etc.) with an interest in law in Europe. We especially welcome submissions from scholars at the early stages of their career and/or under-represented communities.

TIMELINE AND DEADLINES