31st International Summer University
Research & Studies
EUROPE’S CHOICE:
Strategic Autonomy, Political Community, and European Alternatives
31st INTERNATIONAL SUMMER UNIVERSITY 2026
June 21–26, 2026, Kőszeg, Hungary
Venue: Europe House, István Bibó Room (Chernel Str. 14.)
Since the end of WWII, the United States guaranteed security through its unquestioned leadership in NATO, while Europe advanced economic integration and the development of a single market. Today, this arrangement is under visible strain due to geopolitical fragmentation, shifting transatlantic relations, external dependencies, and internal issues such as democratic fatigue, uneven integration, and the complex enlargement processes. The escalation of recent hybrid wars and battles over energy resources heralds a new era in global geopolitics. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has intensified unresolved questions about the EU’s ability to be a coherent and influential global player.
The 2026 Kőszeg International Summer University is co-organized by Ludovika University of Public Service, the Institute of Social and European Studies Foundation (ISES), and the UNESCO Chair in Cultural Heritage and Sustainability. The Program will address the following key themes:
Main Topics
PROGRAM
SUNDAY, JUNE 21
Europe’s Choices – Moving Beyond the Interregnum
The opening colloquium explores Europe’s capacity to navigate a period of strategic uncertainty. Participants will examine whether the EU can redefine itself in response to global disruption, geopolitical competition, and internal fragmentation. The discussion will introduce the week’s central themes: What does strategic autonomy mean in a world of interdependencies as well as fragmentation? How can culture, knowledge, innovation, and civic trust be mobilized to strengthen the European project? The session highlights the practical and normative dilemmas Europe faces in balancing sovereignty, solidarity, and global responsibility, laying the groundwork for the week’s deeper engagement.
MONDAY, JUNE 22
Panel I – Europe at a Strategic Crossroads: Autonomy, Alliances, and the Transatlantic Future
This session examines Europe’s positioning in a rapidly changing global environment, marked by shifting power dynamics, technological competition, and renewed geopolitical tensions. Panelists will explore what “strategic autonomy” means in practice across defense, technology, energy, and foreign policy, and whether Europe has the institutional capacity to act decisively.
The discussion will also address the evolving transatlantic relationship and its implications for European security and global governance. Key themes include the future of European defense cooperation, the role of the EU within international institutions, and the challenge of reconciling autonomy with alliance-based security. The panel will consider whether Europe can strengthen its geopolitical influence while navigating divergences with its closest partners.
Panel II – Europe, the Middle East, and the Energy–Security Nexus
This session explores Europe’s strategic interests and vulnerabilities in the Middle East at a time of heightened regional instability. The discussion will assess Europe’s diplomatic role, its capacity to shape regional outcomes, and the challenges of translating political values into effective geopolitical influence.
A central focus will be on energy security and the broader economic consequences of instability in the region, including the security of critical maritime routes, energy supply chains, and infrastructure. Panelists will consider how regional conflicts affect Europe’s energy markets, economic resilience, and long-term strategic planning, and what policy tools Europe can deploy to mitigate risks and strengthen resilience.
Workshop and mentoring
TUESDAY, JUNE 23
Panel I – European Identity, Democratic Cohesion, and the Foundations of a Political Community
This panel examines the cultural, social, and civic foundations of a European political community beyond institutional and economic integration. It explores how shared values, collective identity, and civic participation contribute to social cohesion and democratic resilience across increasingly diverse European societies.
The discussion will analyze the role of culture, civil society, and grassroots engagement in shaping democratic legitimacy and countering fragmentation. Particular attention will be given to how cultural policy, civic mobilization, and new forms of participation may foster solidarity, sustain democratic norms, and contribute to the long-term viability of a European political community.
Panel II – EU Balkan Observatory: Enlargement, Neighborhood Policy, and Europe’s Geopolitical Reach
This panel addresses the European Union’s engagement with its wider neighborhood through the lens of enlargement, political conditionality, and multilevel cooperation. It evaluates the credibility of current enlargement processes, examining the political, institutional, and geopolitical factors shaping accession prospects in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe.
Beyond formal enlargement frameworks, the panel considers how networks of cooperation – including academic, cultural, and civil society platforms – contribute to integration, regional stability, and the EU’s external influence. The discussion assesses the implications of enlargement and the role of transnational engagement in shaping Europe’s geopolitical position.
III. Workshop and mentoring
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
Panel I – Digital Sovereignty, Technological Power, and the Transformation of Governance
This panel examines how technological transformation and global digital competition are redefining power, sovereignty, and governance. As data infrastructures, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence become central to economic and political systems, Europe faces structural challenges related to dependency, regulatory capacity, and technological autonomy.
The discussion will assess Europe’s regulatory agenda, including data governance, platform regulation, and emerging AI frameworks, and consider whether these instruments can translate into meaningful digital sovereignty. Panelists will examine trade-offs between competitiveness and regulation, innovation and security, and Europe’s capacity to shape global digital norms.
Panel II – Europe’s Strategic Outlook: Integration, Agency, and Future Pathways
This concluding panel brings together the core themes of the Summer University to reflect on Europe’s strategic trajectory in a rapidly changing global environment. Rather than revisiting individual policy domains, the discussion focuses on the broader implications of Europe’s political, social, and technological transformations for its long-term capacity to act as a coherent and influential global actor.
Panelists will examine the structural challenges and opportunities facing Europe as it seeks to reconcile internal diversity with collective action, values with power, and interdependence with strategic autonomy. The discussion will explore how Europe can move from diagnosis to implementation: translating strategic ambition into institutional capability, geopolitical agency, and sustainable influence in an increasingly fragmented international system.
III. Workshop and mentoring
THURSDAY, JUNE 25
Team work session and excursion
FRIDAY, JUNE 26
Student Presentations and Workshop Synthesis
This session presents the outcomes of the week’s workshops and mentoring sessions. Participants will deliver short, analytical presentations based on their group work, highlighting key insights and policy-relevant conclusions.
The session aims to synthesize discussions across the conference themes, addressing questions such as:
The session encourages participants to connect analysis with practice and to offer forward-looking perspectives on Europe’s strategic future.
Registration opens soon.
Full lineup to be announced.