Call For Papers: Workshop on EU Trade Agreements and Strategic Autonomy: Continuity or Change?

Date of the Workshop: 16 June 2026

Deadline for abstracts: 12 March 2026

Place: Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies, KU Leuven, Belgium

Workshop co-organisers: Chad Damro (University of Edinburgh) and Axel Marx (KU Leuven)

Theme of the Workshop

In recent years, the European Union’s trade policy has undergone a notable transformation with the emergence of the concept of strategic autonomy, which focuses on issues of economic security and independence, resilience of supply chains, sustainability, and geopolitical positioning. The concept of strategic autonomy has become central to the EU’s external economic relations and often pitched as ‘open’ strategic autonomy in the context of trade policy. Although not precisely defined, the operationalisation of strategic autonomy has taken many forms. Scholars studying strategic autonomy in external economic relations have increasingly focused on unilateral measures the EU has put in place. However, in the new geopolitical context, the EU is also pursuing several new bilateral trade agreements. It recently concluded the negotiations for the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA), the EU-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the EU-US Trade Deal, the EUIndia Trade Agreement and the EU-Mexico modernised Global Agreement. It is currently negotiating agreements with Australia, Malaysia and the Philippines and has shown interest in new multi-party trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). This workshop aims to critically examine how and to what extent new EU trade agreements differ from previous ones, how strategic autonomy is applied in these agreements and whether these changes represent a paradigmatic shift in EU trade policy under the new strategic autonomy approach. The workshop aims to bring together scholars from political science, law, economics, and related disciplines.

Topics

We invite paper proposals that engage with the concept of strategic autonomy – and its developing political, economic and legal imperatives – in EU trade policy and explore its manifestation in recent trade agreements. Contributions may address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Analysis of the operationalization of the concept of strategic autonomy in EU-Trade agreements

• Analysis focusing on specific strategic sectors, goods and services

• Analysis of the concept of economic security, resilience, and supply chain governance in recently negotiated EU trade agreements

• Sustainability, climate, and human rights provisions in recently negotiated EU trade agreements – is there a change in approach?

• Analysis of institutional and legal innovations in recent EU trade agreements

• Analysis of implications for third countries and the multilateral trading system

• Normative and critical perspectives on the EU’s turn towards open strategic autonomy in trade Both theoretical and empirical contributions are welcome.

Submission and Planning Information

Paper proposals (title, abstract (300 words) and short bios) must be submitted via email to conference@ggs.kuleuven.be (deadline 12 March 2026).

Participants whose papers are selected will be informed by 20 March 2026 and expected to circulate drafts by 8 June 2026. Papers presented at the workshop may be invited for submission as a special issue contribution to a journal.

Limited budget is available to cover travel and accommodation to the workshop. The workshop will take place on 16 June from 9am to 1pm. An informal workshop dinner is planned on 15 June. The workshop is organized with support of the KU Leuven – Edinburgh Global Seed Fund.