5^th International Conference on Europe in Discourse

"A Debate on Partition or Reintegration"

October 1^st - 3^rd, 2026 in Athens, Greece

Europe in Discourse (EID) V will take place in 2026 (October 1^st - October 3^rd) and will build on the tradition of the previous four rather successful international conferences. Europe in Discourse V will engage critically with the profound and structural crisis currently affecting the European Union is facing, one that challenges its cohesion, strategic autonomy and global role. Once again, the foundational elements that have been informing Europe in Discourse I to IV such as values, history and borders will undeniably continue to be present in Europe in Discourse V.

Europe is navigating a highly complex organic crisis: the second Trump Administration is further weakening the transatlantic alliance, replacing traditional isolationism with a new form of assertive exceptionalism that threatens the foundations of global economic, social and security governance. Historically, two key pillars have underpinned the transatlantic relationship: security and economic integration. Both are now under strain. First, defense is put under threat by the US announcements that Europe should increase its defense spending and recalibration of burden-sharing. Second,  the aftermath of protectionist policies—especially the trade tensions initiated during President Trump’s first term—has significantly disrupted EU–U.S. relations and undermined confidence in open, rules-based trade. 

In this context, Europe needs to redefine its narratives and strategies while restructuring and allocating  its internal resources. Priorities in both external relations and domestic policies are shifting in many fields, including security as Europe increasingly finds itself without a transatlantic unified defense strategy. To resist and adapt to these pressures, Europe is called upon to act decisively, to boldly reimagine the core elements of its identity, and to revisit its alliances and global partnerships.

Europe in Discourse (EID) will place particular emphasis on the relationships between Europe and the Global South, using this lens as a transversal perspective across the conference’s thematic axes -- values, history and borders. This focus reflects a growing recognition that, despite its complex and contested nature, the term Global South has demonstrated enduring relevance since its first emergence in 1969. Today, it encompasses a highly diverse set of countries with varying development paths and interest across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Oceania, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Within this heterogeneity, new geopolitical dynamics are taking shape. Asian powers such as China and India – long linked to Europe – are redefining their engagement through large scale initiatives.  China’s  Belt and Road initiative and India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) are reshaping connectivity and influence. Meanwhile, African geographical proximity and growing demographic and economic weight make its relationship with Europe both immediate and strategic. Exploring these interconnections is central to understanding Europe’s evolving global position.

The interaction between Europe and the Global South is shaped by a complex web of historical, economic, and cultural elements—including religious traditions. These interactions are marked by diversity rather than convergence, and understanding them requires attention to the multiple ways in which belief systems have evolved and intersected. In Africa, for instance, religious practices have often developed in response to colonial legacies, while in other parts of the Global South—such as the Middle East and South Asia—Islamic traditions play a central role. Europe, with its own evolving religious landscape, is both shaped by and responding to these global currents. Europe in Discourse V aims to foster dialogue and mutual recognition, exploring how shared spaces can emerge across cultural and religious diversity. This approach seeks to move beyond binary oppositions, focusing instead on the conditions for coexistence and collaborative engagement

Institutions also play a role in the current landscape:  the UN, for instance,  remains hamstrung by structures  rooted in  post-WWII power relations and a financial dependency on a few dominant actors. Therefore, on which basis could multilateralism be reformed? How should it gain more legitimacy given the growing agency of the Global south? What should be its goals that cannot be confined to growth and security? What modalities should it adopt? 

All this drives the conclusion that there are regions and countries which are part of the Global South, and which can function as accelerators for the new Europe. As such they can provide a meaningful backdrop against which Europe can measure itself, re-assess its partnerships potential and move forward in a steadfast way to re-invent itself.

While the previous Conferences took place in general context of global  stability now we need to go back to the drawing board to redo Europe. During the previous Conferences we were discussing Europe from a safe ground. When we were discussing the Global South as a key theme for Europe in Discourse V this was done under conditions of stability, to put more emphasis on borders, values and history through the lens of the Global South. Now, this discussion needs to be more profound and have a discussion on Europe’s own identity. At the same time, we see countries or pockets of the so-called Global South as a key partner(s) to the EU and critical for partnerships potential with Europe which can venture towards a quest for reintegration .

Nonetheless, the current conditions and dilemmas brought before Europe guide the theme of the Conference Europe in Discourse: The Debate on Partition or Reintegration. The discussions that will emerge from keynote addresses and panel debates are going to be centered around the centripetal and centrifugal forces which compete against each other and impact the future of Europe. On the one hand the centrifugal elements of the organic crisis mentioned above are pushing towards partition and fragmentation while on the other hand there are the centripetal cohesive forces of shared culture, the commitment  for maintaining peace in the continent  but also shared interests for the future drive reintegration. The debate about Europe as well as the policies in action that will be set in motion by the European Union will largely inform and shape the future of Europe.

President of the Conference: Leonidas-Phoebus Koskos, Esq. President, Hellenic American University

• Juliane House, Hellenic American University
• Themis Kaniklidou, Hellenic American University
• Gerasimos Kontaxis, Hellenic American University
• Bertina Stambolliu, Hellenic American University
• Denisa Baraj, Hellenic American University

Contact Information: For any questions, please contact the organizing committee electronically at: europeindiscourse@hauniv.edu