Maastricht at 30: what next for Europe?

The Maastricht Treaty established the European Union as we know it, introducing the EU citizenship granted to every citizen of a member state and paving the way for a single currency. Three decades on, the enlarged, and politically and culturally diverse EU is facing new challenges. Brexit and the Covid-19 Pandemic widened the divide between the member states, limiting citizens' freedoms and reinstating old borders. As the world emerges from the pandemic, a war and humanitarian crisis of unprecedented scale is unfolding just outside the EU's borders. Though the EU has responded to the security threat with unity, the situation has highlighted limited integration in the areas of security and defence. Shifts in the global balance of power, the emergence of new and powerful players and increasing instability on the EU's borders have rekindled the debate on energy security, migration and climate governance.

To look upon past, present and possible futures for Europe from an academic perspective we invite master's students, doctoral students and early-career researchers from across the field of European Studies to submit paper and panel proposals addressing the theme of 'Maastricht at 30: What next for Europe?'

To foster cross-disciplinary conversation, we welcome proposals from all European Studies disciplines and related fields. Including (but not limited to) Political Science, Law, Sociology, Economics, History, Gender Studies, Anthropology, International Relations and Public Policy. We hope that this conference will address the topic in a variety of ways and from a range of perspectives.

Follow #UACESGF22 on social media for updates.

We look forward to receiving your proposals and to welcoming you to Maastricht this summer.

Funding of up to 200 GBP will only be offered to those whose paper proposal was accepted following the Call for Papers. There are up to 50 funded places (up to 200 GBP) available at the conference. Funding is only awarded to delegates who are currently studying for their PhD or who have submitted their PhD within the last three years (at the time of the conference). There are also up to 5 funded places available for masters-level students.

Funding will be allocated following paper selection.

Terms and Conditions of the funding