EXPRESS<sp>2</sp> midterm conference: crafting a new EU Social Contract together
The EXPRESS2 Midterm Conference will take place on 28–29 May 2025 in Istanbul, Turkey, hosted by the Gender and Women’s Studies Center of Excellence at Sabancı University. Under the title “Crafting a New EU Social Contract Together,” the event will bring together researchers, legal scholars, policy experts and civil society actors to examine how the EU can respond to today’s disruptive challenges through a renewed, inclusive and participatory social contract.
Held over two days, the conference will feature keynote speaker Prof. Meltem Müftüler-Baç (Sabancı University), four thematic panels and a special session dedicated to the EXPRESS2 Young Scholars Contest. Topics will range from democratic governance to climate change, digitalisation, gender equality, trust, and rule of law. Speakers from ten partner institutions across Europe will share insights from their latest research, including early draft of a proposed EU social contract.
The event will be held in hybrid format and conducted entirely in English. Participation is free but registration is required via this link: https://bit.ly/EXPRESS2MTConference.
Agenda:
Day 1: Wednesday, 28 May
- Welcome Remarks
Antoni ABAT NINET. EXPRESS² Scientific Coordinator, Universitat Autònoma de
Barcelona & Zeynep Gülru Göker, Sabancı University - Towards an Inclusive and Sustainable EU Social Contract
Moderator: Ayşe Betül Çelik, Sabancı University- Antoni Abat Ninet & Jorge Piñera Álvarez, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
From Metaphor to Text, Drafting a Social Contract Proposal for the EU - Pınar Uyan Semerci, İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi, CO3.
Rethinking Social Contract in the Times of Polycrisis - Jakob von Holderstein Holtermann & Nicholas Haagensen, University of Copenhagen.
“But you came to me?” In Search of EU and the Social Contract in the State of Nature of the War in Ukraine
- Antoni Abat Ninet & Jorge Piñera Álvarez, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
- Gender, Populism and Mistrust
Moderator: Giacomo Delledonne, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna- Zeynep Gülru Göker, Oya Yeğen & Meriç Çağlar, Sabancı University.
Gender Equality and the EU Social Contract: Challenges, Divergences & Prospects - Giuseppe Martinico, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna.
Populism as a Disruptive Element of the European Social Contract - Berta Caihuelas, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.
Trust Under Pressure: Navigating the EU Social Contract Amid Polycrisis
- Zeynep Gülru Göker, Oya Yeğen & Meriç Çağlar, Sabancı University.
- Keynote Speech
Meltem Müftüler-Baç, Sabancı University.
The European Union’s Security Environment: Strategic Partners
Day 2: Thursday, 29 May
- Digitalization, Pandemics and Intersections
Moderator: Cenk Özbay, Sabancı University- Beatrice Monciunskaite & Federico Fabbrini, Dublin City University.
Protecting the Rule of Law and Democracy During Pandemics: A Perspective from Social Contract Theory - Giulia Gentile, Essex University.
A New EU Social Contract for the Digital Age - Dimitry Kochenov & Jacquelyn D. Veraldi, Central European University.
Charting Intersections
- Beatrice Monciunskaite & Federico Fabbrini, Dublin City University.
- Navigating Climate Disruptions
Moderator: Kristen Biehl, Sabancı University- Beatriz Martinez Romera & Alberto Barrio Fernandez, University of Copenhagen.
Navigating Climate Disruptions: An Examination of Stressors and Policy Responses for a Resilient EU Social Contract - Zeynep Kadirbeyoğlu, Istanbul Policy Center, Sabanci University.
Fracturing the Social Contract? Lessons from Urban Sustainability Transitions in Germany and Turkey - Özlem Altıparmak, HUDOTO Foundation.
Defending the Environment Through Legal Means in Turkey
- Beatriz Martinez Romera & Alberto Barrio Fernandez, University of Copenhagen.
- Young Scholars Contest
Welcome speeches. Virginia Mata Marcano & Antoni Abat Ninet, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Student presentations - Closing remarks
Antoni ABAT, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona & Zeynep Gülru Göker, Sabancı University
General Assembly
On 30 May, one full day will be dedicated to internal project activities. Members of the EXPRESS2 consortium will meet in person to assess progress, coordinate the second project phase, and reflect on strategic actions in communication, management, gender perspective, ethics and governance.
If you are a member of EXPRESS2 team, please use this link to register.