Call for Papers: The Normative Dimension of EU Communication (Jean Monnet Chair Conference, University of Ferrara)

The Jean Monnet Chair "Verba volant, sed imperant? The Legal Challenges of EU Communication", held by Prof. Jacopo Alberti at the Department of Law, University of Ferrara, invites contributions for its final conference, to be held on 2 October 2026 at the University of Ferrara, Italy.

The call welcomes innovative contributions addressing the normative dimension of EU communication, also in light of recent transformations of the European information space. The conference is the concluding event of the Chair's 2023-2026 project, funded by the European Commission under the Jean Monnet Actions.

The Jean Monnet Chair investigates whether and to what extent EU public communication is capable of producing binding legal effects, its impact on the EU institutional balance, and whether existing legal remedies can address the consequences of this phenomenon on the rights of individuals. Papers should engage with the legal and normative dimensions of EU communication.

The call is open to:

• Early-career scholars (PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers)
• Practitioners working on EU law and EU communication

Selected authors, as well as other outstanding applicants, may be invited to join the Young Researchers Platform (YRP), an international network fostering discussion and collaboration on the topics covered by the Chair.

Applicants should submit the following to jmchair.eulaw@unife.it by 15 July 2026:

• A 500-word abstract of the proposed paper
• A short curriculum vitae

All submissions and the conference working language must be in English. Selected contributors must provide a preliminary draft by 15 September 2026 and a final version by 30 November 2026. Conference proceedings are being considered for publication as a special issue in a legal journal.

Participation is free. Travel and accommodation costs for selected participants are reimbursed in accordance with the Jean Monnet financial rules.