--- title: "Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union" description: "25th Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union is a professional conference in Claremont, United States, Apr 8–9, 2027." url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/conferences/professional/25th-undergraduate-research-conference-on-the-european-union-2027" --- # 25th Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union Apr 8–9, 2027[Claremont, United States](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1\&query=Claremont%2C%20United%20States)In-person [Registration open](https://www.scrippscollege.edu/eucenter/student-resources/urceu) The Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union offers a forum for college students to present their scholarly work on topics related to the European Union. Held in Claremont, USA, this event fosters academic exchange and deepens understanding of European integration, policy, and international relations among emerging scholars. It serves as a significant platform for young researchers to engage with complex European issues. ## Committees & topics - Topics The Evolution of European Integration · Transatlantic Relations · The European Union: Institutions and Governance · European Countries: Diversity Within a Shared Continent · The EU's External Relations with Third Countries ## Why it matters This conference provides a crucial opportunity for undergraduate students to engage directly with the intricacies of the [European Union](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/european-union), a major global actor. By presenting their research, participants develop critical analytical and communication skills essential for future careers in diplomacy, academia, and international organizations. The focus on the European Union allows for a concentrated study of a unique political and economic entity, offering insights into multilateral governance, regional integration, and the challenges of maintaining unity amidst diverse national interests. The event's location in the USA highlights the transatlantic dimension of European studies, encouraging a broader perspective on how European developments are perceived and analyzed from outside the continent. This cross-cultural academic dialogue is vital for fostering a comprehensive understanding of global affairs. For students, it represents an early career milestone, providing experience in academic presentation and networking within a specialized field. ## How to prepare Prospective participants should focus on developing robust research projects that contribute meaningfully to the discourse on the [European Union](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/european-union). Given the academic nature of the conference, papers should demonstrate rigorous methodology, clear argumentation, and a thorough understanding of relevant literature. Students should consider how their research fits into broader themes concerning European integration, policy challenges, or the EU's role in global affairs. Effective presentation skills are paramount. Presenters should prepare to articulate their research findings concisely and engage confidently with questions from peers and faculty. Crafting a compelling narrative around their research, supported by strong evidence, will be key to a successful presentation. Participants should also be prepared to discuss the implications of their work for current European and international policy debates. ## Country perspectives Where the most-relevant 4 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile. [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [As the host nation, the USA provides a critical external perspective on European affairs, fostering transatlantic academic dialogue.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Role in topic](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [The USA, through its academic institutions, serves as a significant hub for European studies, offering a platform for non-European scholars to analyze and contribute to discussions on the European Union. This conference, held in the USA, underscores the global reach of EU studies and the importance of international academic collaboration.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Germany is a central economic and political force within the EU, influencing many of its policies and future directions.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Role in topic](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Germany plays a pivotal role in the European Union, often leading discussions on economic stability, environmental policy, and foreign relations. Research presented at the conference might explore Germany's leadership, its contributions to EU policy-making, or its bilateral relations with other member states like FRA or POL.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [France](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [France is a key founding member and influential actor in the EU, shaping its strategic autonomy and defense policies.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Role in topic](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [France, as a core member of the EU, significantly impacts its strategic direction, particularly in areas of defense, security, and cultural policy. Research could delve into France's vision for European sovereignty, its role in EU enlargement debates, or its contributions to common European initiatives.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Poland](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/poland) [Poland represents the perspective of Central and Eastern European member states, often highlighting issues of national sovereignty and regional development.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/poland) [Role in topic](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/poland) [Poland's experiences within the EU offer valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of integration for Central and Eastern European countries. Research might examine Poland's stance on EU legal frameworks, its energy policy within the EU context, or its relationship with institutions in Brussels.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/poland) ## Topics & background The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it. 1 ### The Evolution of European Integration European integration began in the aftermath of the Second World War as a project to bind former adversaries together through shared economic interests and supranational institutions. The 1951 Treaty of Paris established the European Coal and Steel Community among six founding states (France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg), followed by the 1957 Treaties of Rome creating the European Economic Community and Euratom. Successive treaties — the Single European Act (1986), Maastricht (1992), Amsterdam (1997), Nice (2001), and Lisbon (2007) — progressively deepened integration, creating a single market, a common currency for most members (the euro, launched in 1999), and shared competences in areas ranging from competition policy to foreign affairs. Integration has also widened, growing from six to twenty-seven member states across successive enlargements, most notably the 2004 'big bang' enlargement that brought in eight Central and Eastern European countries. Yet the project has faced recurring crises: the rejection of the Constitutional Treaty in 2005, the eurozone sovereign debt crisis beginning in 2009, the 2015 migration crisis, the United Kingdom's 2016 vote to leave (completed in 2020), and disputes over rule of law in member states such as Hungary and Poland. Today the integration debate centers on how far to extend qualified majority voting, whether to create deeper fiscal capacity following the precedent of the NextGenerationEU recovery fund, how to manage further enlargement toward Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans, and how to reconcile supranational ambition with persistent national sovereignty concerns. Key players - [France](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Founding member and traditional driver of political and defense integration.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) - [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Largest economy and central voice on fiscal and single-market policy.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) - [Italy](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/italy) [Founding member shaping Mediterranean, migration, and industrial policy debates.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/italy) - [Poland](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/poland) [Largest Central European member, influential on enlargement and rule-of-law disputes.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/poland) - [Hungary](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/hungary) [Frequent dissenter on sovereignty, migration, and rule-of-law questions.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/hungary) - [Netherlands](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/netherlands) [Leading 'frugal' voice on fiscal discipline and single-market integrity.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/netherlands) 2 ### Transatlantic Relations The transatlantic relationship between Europe and North America has been the cornerstone of the Western security and economic order since 1945. Forged through the Marshall Plan, the founding of NATO in 1949, and decades of Cold War cooperation, it expanded after 1991 to include democratic consolidation in Central and Eastern Europe, NATO enlargement, and a dense economic partnership that today represents the world's largest bilateral trade and investment relationship. Institutions such as the G7, OECD, and the now-paused Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations have reflected attempts to formalize cooperation beyond security. The relationship has nonetheless been strained at multiple junctures: the 2003 Iraq War split European capitals from Washington, the Snowden revelations of 2013 damaged trust on data and surveillance, and the 2017–2021 period saw open disputes over NATO burden-sharing, trade tariffs, the Paris Agreement, and the Iran nuclear deal. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 reinvigorated transatlantic unity through coordinated sanctions, military assistance, and NATO's accession of Finland (2023) and Sweden (2024). Current debates focus on burden-sharing for Ukraine, the durability of U.S. security commitments under shifting domestic politics, technology and trade frictions (notably over the Inflation Reduction Act, semiconductor controls, and digital regulation), and coordinating policy toward China. The EU's push for 'strategic autonomy' coexists uneasily with continued structural dependence on U.S. security guarantees. Key players - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Principal transatlantic partner and primary security guarantor through NATO.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [Canada](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/canada) [North American partner active in NATO and EU trade ties (CETA).](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/canada) - [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [EU's largest economy and key interlocutor on trade and Ukraine policy.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) - [France](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Leading European voice on strategic autonomy and defense industrial policy.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) - [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Post-Brexit transatlantic bridge and major NATO contributor.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) - [Poland](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/poland) [Frontline NATO member and strong advocate of robust U.S. engagement in Europe.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/poland) 3 ### The European Union: Institutions and Governance The European Union, established in its current form by the 1992 Maastricht Treaty and substantially restructured by the 2007 Lisbon Treaty, is a sui generis political and economic union of twenty-seven member states. Its institutional architecture rests on the European Commission (executive initiative), the European Parliament (directly elected co-legislator), the Council of the EU and European Council (representing member-state governments), the Court of Justice of the European Union, and the European Central Bank for the eurozone. Competences are divided between exclusive EU areas (e.g., customs union, competition), shared areas (single market, environment), and supporting areas where member states retain primary authority. The EU has progressively assumed crisis-response functions its founders did not anticipate. The eurozone crisis produced the European Stability Mechanism and banking union; the COVID-19 pandemic produced the NextGenerationEU recovery instrument financed by joint borrowing; the war in Ukraine produced the European Peace Facility and the first coordinated EU military assistance to a third country. Simultaneously, controversies over rule-of-law backsliding in Hungary and Poland have tested the Article 7 procedure and conditionality mechanisms tying EU funds to democratic standards. Key current debates include treaty reform and qualified majority voting, the absorptive capacity of the Union ahead of further enlargement, the future of the Multiannual Financial Framework, the green and digital transitions under the European Green Deal, and the balance between Commission-led regulation and member-state prerogatives. Key players - [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Largest member state, dominant voice in budgetary and economic governance.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) - [France](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Co-driver of EU institutional reform and political union.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) - [Italy](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/italy) [Third-largest economy, major recipient and shaper of NextGenerationEU.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/italy) - [Spain](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/spain) [Mediterranean heavyweight active on social, climate, and migration policy.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/spain) - [Poland](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/poland) [Largest Central European member and contested partner on rule of law.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/poland) - [Belgium](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/belgium) [Host of EU institutions and frequent broker in Council negotiations.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/belgium) 4 ### European Countries: Diversity Within a Shared Continent Europe comprises roughly fifty states spanning EU members, EFTA countries (Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein), EU candidate and potential-candidate states across the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership, the United Kingdom outside the EU, microstates, and the Russian Federation. This diversity reflects centuries of state formation, the post-1945 division of the continent, the 1989–1991 collapse of communist regimes, and the dissolutions of the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia. The result is a continent of overlapping institutional architectures — the EU, NATO, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, and the European Economic Area — with widely varying degrees of integration. European countries share broad commitments to liberal democracy, market economies, and human rights frameworks under the European Convention on Human Rights, but differ significantly in size, economic structure, security posture, energy mix, and political culture. The Nordic model, continental social market economies, Mediterranean economies, Central European post-transition states, and the Western Balkans each present distinct policy profiles. Non-EU European states such as Norway and Switzerland participate selectively in EU structures, while the United Kingdom now operates under a Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Contemporary issues affecting European countries collectively include demographic decline, energy security following the rupture with Russian gas supplies, defense rearmament, the green transition, migration management, and democratic resilience against both internal illiberalism and external interference. Key players - [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Continental anchor economy and central political actor.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) - [France](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Nuclear power, UNSC permanent member, and major political force.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) - [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Non-EU European power with significant security and economic weight.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) - [Russia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Largest European state by territory, currently estranged through war in Ukraine.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) - [Ukraine](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/ukraine) [EU candidate at war, central to European security debates.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/ukraine) - [Norway](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/norway) [EEA member and key energy supplier shaping non-EU European cooperation.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/norway) 5 ### The EU's External Relations with Third Countries The European Union conducts external relations through a hybrid of supranational tools — trade policy, development assistance, sanctions, and association agreements — and intergovernmental Common Foreign and Security Policy under the High Representative and the European External Action Service, established by the Lisbon Treaty. The EU is the world's largest trading bloc and largest provider of development aid, giving it significant economic leverage even where it lacks unified military instruments. It maintains dense partnerships through instruments such as Association Agreements (Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia), the Cotonou/Samoa Agreement with ACP states, free trade agreements (Canada, Japan, Mercosur), and strategic partnerships with major powers. The EU's external posture has been reshaped by several developments: the 2014 annexation of Crimea and 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which prompted unprecedented sanctions and the granting of candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova; deteriorating relations with China, recast as a 'partner, competitor, and systemic rival'; tensions with Turkey over migration, Cyprus, and democratic backsliding; and intensified engagement with the Global South through the Global Gateway infrastructure initiative launched in 2021 as an alternative to China's Belt and Road. Central debates concern how to operationalize 'strategic autonomy' without alienating the United States, how to use trade defense and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism without triggering disputes, how to manage enlargement toward Ukraine and the Western Balkans, and how to balance values-based foreign policy with economic and security pragmatism toward partners in the Gulf, Africa, and the Indo-Pacific. Key players - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Closest ally and principal partner on Ukraine, sanctions, and technology policy.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Largest trading partner reframed as partner, competitor, and systemic rival.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) - [Russia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Adversary subject to comprehensive EU sanctions following invasion of Ukraine.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) - [Ukraine](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/ukraine) [Candidate country and primary recipient of EU external assistance.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/ukraine) - [Turkey](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/turkey) [Customs union partner, NATO ally, and contested candidate state.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/turkey) - [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Largest neighbor managed through the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) ## Resources News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for 25th Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union. Recent reporting to ground your prep [US Sanctions Gaza Flotilla Organisers](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/us-sanctions-gaza-flotilla-organisers-why-it-matters) [Israel's Deportation of Gaza Activists](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/israels-deportation-of-gaza-flotilla-activists-a-strategic-move) [US-China AI Talks: A New Strategic Guardrail](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/ai-talks-could-become-the-new-us-china-guardrail) [DeepMind UK Employees Unionize Over AI Ethics](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/google-deepmind-uk-employees-unionize-over-military-ai-concerns) Lessons Bite-sized lessons to build the basics [Hidden Stakeholders](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/hidden-stakeholders) [Engagement Strategies](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/engagement-strategies) [Dynamic Analysis](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/dynamic-analysis) [Stakeholder Mapping Workshop](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/stakeholder-workshop) Courses Guided courses that go deeper on the topic [Media & Press Relations](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/media-press) [Advanced Negotiation](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/advanced-negotiation) [Multilateral Negotiation](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/multilateral-negotiation) [Policy Brief Writing](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/policy-brief) The states in play, with the data that shapes their stance [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [France](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Italy](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/italy) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/italy) [Poland](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/poland) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/poland) [Hungary](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/hungary) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/hungary) [Netherlands](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/netherlands) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/netherlands) [Canada](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/canada) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/canada) [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Spain](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/spain) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/spain) [Belgium](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/belgium) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/belgium) [Russia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Ukraine](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/ukraine) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/ukraine) [Norway](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/norway) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/norway) [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Turkey](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/turkey) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/turkey) ## Frequently asked questions - - - - Free account Save conferences, research any topic with AI, build position papers, and keep your daily prep streak — free. 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