Call for Papers
Empirical Perspectives on European Law
Focus
The organizers of the conference Empirical Perspectives on European Law invite original research that contributes to our understanding of European law, including both European Union law and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The event aims to take advantage of the rapidly expanding use of empirical approaches to enhance our understanding of the practical realities of the European legal frameworks and their impact.
The conference will inter alia explore how EU law and the ECHR are implemented across member states, assess compliance levels, and examine their broader impact on national jurisdictions and societies. It would also cover other aspects of European law, broadly understood, including perceptions of the legitimacy and effectiveness of the systems and its institutions (including the judiciary), policy effectiveness, and the impact of developing technology. We also welcome theoretical and methodological contributions of direct relevance for empirical studies in European law.
Keynote Speakers
Erik Wennerström, Judge on the European Court of Human Rights.
Cathryn Costello, Professor of Global Refugee and Migration Law at the Sutherland School of Law, University College Dublin.
Additional keynote speakers TBA.
Important Dates
Abstract Submission Deadline: 1 September 2025
Notification of Acceptance: 30 September 2025
Draft Article Submission: 14 January 2026
Conference Dates: 22–23 January 2026
Submission Guidelines
Abstracts should be submitted via this Registration Form. Subsequent communication will take place using emails.
Practicalities
The conference will take place at Umeå University, main campus, and begin on the morning of Thursday 22 January and continue until mid-day Friday 23 January. The organizers will cover travel cost, hotel rooms, and meals for all speakers. Speakers will also be invited to participate in special journal issue featuring conference contributions.
Organizing Committee
On behalf of the Swedish Network for European Legal Studies, the conference is co-organized by Johan Lindholm (Umeå University) and Urška Šadl (president of the European Society for Empirical Legal Studies).
Contact and More Information
For more and update information, follow ESELS on LinkedIn. For questions about the conference and the submission process, email Jasmine Bakaeva at jasmine.bakaeva@juridicum.su.se.