Research across periods, topics and disciplines
The breadth of research presented at the Seventh Annual Graduate Conference on the History of European Integration offered a striking illustration of the diversity of the field. Held at the European University Institute on 14–15 September, the conference brought together 14 early-career researchers along with senior scholars from universities and research institutions across Europe.
Organised by the Alcide De Gasperi Research Centre (ADG), the Conference covered a wide chronological and thematic range, from the interwar period to the early 2000s and from European Community budgetary politics, trade policy, and humanitarian aid to cinema, music, migration, citizens’ letters, business and political movements.
For Emmanuel Mourlon-Druol, co-director of the ADG, this breadth is central to the conference’s purpose. “The aim of the Graduate Conference has always been to bring together early career researchers and more senior scholars to discuss cutting-edge research in the field, in a congenial and friendly atmosphere. This year’s edition showed once more the vividness of the field — we received about 70 applications for only 14 spots — and the broad range of topics and periods covered, from the interwar period to the 2000s, from humanitarian aid to budgetary politics, from Japanese carmakers to musical life immediately after World War II.”
The diversity extended beyond the subjects under discussion. The papers drew on different sources and approaches, reflecting a field that brings together history, political science, law, sociology and other disciplines, and looks at European integration through the experiences of institutions and policymakers as well as citizens, cultural actors, workers, businesses and political movements.
Moreover, in addition to the panels and a professionalization session on publishing, the 2026 Conference included a welcome by Robert Schuman Centre Director Professor Erik Jones and a public roundtable at the School of Transnational Governance (STG) opened by STG Director Johanna Mair.
Jones reminded researchers of their role, noting the importance and helpfulness for policy-makers and practitioners to have “a clear-eyed view of how European integration happened.” During the STG event, Dr Mair, along with Dr Grace Ballor, historian from Bocconi University and Dr Kristin Fabbe, Chair in Business and Comparative Politics at the EUI, deepened the discussion on this insight, exploring “why history matters for today’s governance.” As Dr Mair observed, “History matters for governance not because it offers ready-made answers, but because it helps us recognize that the institutions we inherit are neither inevitable nor finished.”
Presenting research and exchanging ideas
For Chiara Johannesmeier of Bielefeld University, whose primary sources include citizens’ letters to government leaders in post-fascist West Germany and Italy, this openness was particularly valuable. “I was curious how my paper would be received, since it isn't an institutional or political history of European integration. I appreciate the open-mindedness towards all kinds of political actors.” She also emphasised the importance of exchanging ideas across different academic traditions: “This was a great opportunity to get closer to what is going on internationally, it is really enriching, and the kind of exchange it offers is crucial.”
The conference format was designed to encourage that exchange. Each paper was assigned a dedicated discussant, while participants were also expected to read one another’s papers, creating opportunities for discussion that extended beyond individual sessions.
“It is a special opportunity, it is rare to have so many experts in one place, and to have one of them as a personal discussant,” said Alberto Bordignon of the University of Florence. “The format of having us all read each others' papers was really useful, as it fed the discussion.” He added that the feedback he received during the conference, combined with the insights from the session ‘Why (EU) history matters for today’s governance’, “really contributed to my professional growth.”
For José Meroño Asenjo, from Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Université de Strasbourg, the combination of papers, expert feedback and peer exchange was a key part of the experience. “It's been a really good experience, with a big variety of papers and great discussants. A great opportunity to talk about my work with senior scholars. That expert feedback, and meeting peers working on European integration, were the best parts.”
For Ken Odrich, a graduate student at the London School of Economics, the opportunity to meet others working in the same relatively specialised field was also significant. Research on European integration, he noted, “is relatively niche”, making the opportunity to be in the same room and discuss his work with other scholars in the field particularly valuable.
Discussing new research in the field
Discussants likewise highlighted the quality and openness of the exchanges. Professor Daniele Pasquinucci of the University of Siena described the papers he read as “original and deep”, while appreciating the willingness of the paper-givers to engage in discussion in what he called a “friendly, constructive environment”.
Dr Heike Wieters of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin drew attention to another feature of the format: “It is a great format, bringing together so many people from so many contexts. It is also fascinating to have presentations from young scholars who are all at different points of their graduate research. I was impressed by the potential of some and the achievements of others.”
Professor Anna Piotrowska of Jagiellonian University similarly noted that she was “impressed by the diversity of approaches and topics”, adding that the doctoral researchers were working “at a really high level” and were “very mature”.
The programme also extended beyond the paper sessions. A roundtable at the Florence School of Transnational Governance, “Why (EU) history matters for today’s governance?”, brought together perspectives from history, political science and governance, while a dedicated Career & Publications session provided further practical guidance for early-career researchers.
About the Annual Graduate Conference
The Annual Graduate Conference on the History of European Integration, organized by the Alcide De Gasperi Research Centre, provides a unique setting for PhD students and early career researchers to discuss ongoing research related to the history of European integration. The Historical Archives of the European Union, the EUI Widening Europe Programme, the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies and the Florence School of Transnational Governance provided financial support for the 2026 edition.