Leuven, Belgium, 7-8 September 2026
Africa-Europe relations are entering a pivotal juncture as the global order that long structured inter-regionalism and multilateral governance comes under acute pressure. The retreat of traditional donors, the growing assertiveness of new actors, and the fracturing of multilateral institutions are reconfiguring the geoeconomic context of the relationship. Against this backdrop, questions of shared prosperity – who benefits, on what terms, and through what governance arrangements – have become both central and deeply contested.
The Jean Monnet Network NEAR-ER, hosted by the Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies (GGS) in partnership with the Platform for Africa-European Studies (PAES) and the Centre for the Study of Governance Innovation (GovInn) at the University of Pretoria, invites scholars from across disciplines to submit theoretical and empirical contributions that engage with the political, economic, institutional, legal and social dimensions of Africa-Europe relations in a world in flux.
Submit your paper proposal
Scholars can submit their paper proposal via the below submit your abstract link, no later than 6 April 2026. The abstract should clearly state the research question, methodology, and main arguments of the proposed paper.
Key Dates & Information
- Deadline for submission of abstracts: 6 April 2026
- Notification of acceptance: 15 April 2026
- Deadline for submission of papers: 15 August 2026
- Conference dates: 7 and 8 September 2026
Conference venue: KU Leuven, Belgium (in-person only)
If you have any questions regarding the conference or need more information, email us at
near-er@kuleuven.be