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:
PRELIMINARY PROGRAM
SUNDAY, JUNE 21
3 pm – 4:30 pm: Europe’s New Choice – Coming out from 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.
4:35 pm – 6:05 pm: Europa Nostra: Culture as Compass for European Navigation
The panel will focus on how culture can serve as a guiding framework for Europe in addressing current and future social and cultural challenges. It is expected to touch on themes such as shared heritage, identity formation, and the role of cultural values in shaping political and social directions. The discussion may also explore the balance between unity and diversity within Europe, as well as the importance of cultural memory in decision-making processes, shaping how societies interpret the past and make coherent choices about the future. In addition, it will likely consider how cultural initiatives and institutions contribute to resilience and cooperation across borders. How can the EU, through deeper political and cultural integration, secure resilience, more openness, democratic legitimacy, and the capacity to act as a credible global actor? Overall, the panel will revolve around interpreting culture as a strategic and orienting force for good in Europe’s ongoing development.
MONDAY, JUNE 22
9:30 am – 10 am Registration
10 am – 12 pm: Panel: 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.
12 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch break
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Panel: 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.
3:30 pm – 4 pm Coffee break
4 pm – 5 pm Workshop on Civil Society and Grassroots Movements
TUESDAY, JUNE 23
9:30 am – 10 am Registration
10 am – 12 pm Panel: 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.
12 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch break
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Panel: 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.
3:30 pm – 4 pm Coffee break
4 pm – 5 pm Workshop on digital ethnography with Ivana Stepanovic
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
9:30 am – 10 am Registration
10 am – 12 pm Panel: 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.
12 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch break
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Panel: Europe’s Future: Youth, Culture, Arts and Global Engagement
Young people across Europe are reshaping political life in ways that exceed conventional definitions of participation. From grassroots organising and digital activism to transnational solidarity networks and new forms of civic identity, youth engagement is redefining what politics means and how it is practiced. This panel brings together researchers and practitioners to examine how young people in Central and Southeastern Europe are navigating questions of democracy, integration, and Europe’s place in a changing world, and what their experiences reveal about the broader political transformations underway.
Film screening “Year of Solidarity Support” (Solidarity Network, Serbia)
3:30 pm – 4 pm Coffee break
4 pm – 5 pm Workshop on AI ethics and literacy with Branislav Radeljic
THURSDAY, JUNE 25
9:30 am – 10 am Registration
10 am – 12 pm Panel: The Future of Universities in Future Europe
This panel explores the future of universities in Europe by questioning traditional academic hierarchies and institutional structures. It will examine how higher education, in its current form and in varying forms of reshaping across regions, can keep pace with technological change, shifting political contexts, and growing demands for social relevance, partnerships, and international collaborations. Participants will discuss the tension between specialized, market-oriented requirements and broader, critical forms of knowledge production, as well as the gradual erosion of rigid disciplinary boundaries. The conversation will also address how universities can become more open, flexible, and engaged with society, the private sector, international organizations, and public institutions while maintaining academic autonomy. Special attention will be given to the challenges and transformations in Central and Eastern Europe as institutions navigate both global pressures and local contexts. The panel aims to foster critical reflection on how universities can move beyond traditional models and adapt to an increasingly complex and uncertain future.
12 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch break
Afternoon: Team work session or excursion
FRIDAY, JUNE 26
9:30 am – 10 am Registration
10 am – 12 pm 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.
Application deadline: 13. May 2026.
Applicants should fill out the Application Form and send the following documents to: [email protected]:
or you can fill out this form:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/YG30madJja?origin=lprLink
Eligibility: MA and PhD students, young researchers and social entrepreneurs with academic or professional interests in the topics.
The organisers will provide:
Participants are responsible for:
Accommodation expenses for a limited number of applicants are covered by the institute every year based on the Selection Committee’s decision. They will be informed after the selection process is completed.
Applicants will be notified on the outcome of evaluation process by 23rd of May.
About Kőszeg:
Nestled in the foothills of the Alps along the Austrian border, Kőszeg is rightly known as the jewellery box of Hungary: a place where centuries of history, culture, and natural beauty converge in one exquisitely preserved small town. Its cobblestone streets and terracotta rooftops transport visitors back to an era of burghers and castle lords, the ensemble of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture creating an atmosphere so vivid it feels like walking backward through time. At the heart of this legacy stands the legendary Siege of 1532, when a garrison of fewer than 800 soldiers under captain Miklós Jurisics repelled an Ottoman army of over 100,000, and to this day, the church bells still ring at 11 o’clock in memory of that defiance. Viticulture stretches back to Roman times, the surrounding hills draped in vineyards and laced with hiking trails through the Kőszeg Mountains, where the Írottkő Nature Reserve rewards walkers with breathtaking panoramas across both Hungary and Austria. The crisp alpine air, mild climate, and timeless streetscapes make this border town one of Central Europe’s most enchanting destinations.
Full lineup to be announced.