Call for Papers: Economic Security and Competitive Markets - Reconciling Conflicting Ambitions, Research Centre for State and Law (SteR), Radboud University [Amsterdam, 22 January 2027]

The Research Centre for State and Law (SteR) at Radboud University, Nijmegen, invites abstracts for an international interdisciplinary conference titled Economic Security and Competitive Markets: Reconciling Conflicting Ambitions, to be held on Friday, 22 January 2027 from 9 am at the AKD Amsterdam office, Gustav Mahlerlaan 2970, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The conference brings together economists, legal scholars, policymakers and practitioners around one question: how can governments strengthen economic security without undermining open and competitive markets? It is organised within the SteR research theme Market Functioning and Resilience by the Department of International and European Law at the Faculty of Law together with the Department of Economics at the Nijmegen School of Management.

The post-Cold War era was built on the belief that economic interdependence and international trade would deliver prosperity, stability and peace. That narrative is now being challenged. Interdependence is increasingly read as a strategic vulnerability and a source of geopolitical leverage, and trade has become an arena of strategic competition.

In response, the European Union has built a broad economic security agenda. The European Economic Security Strategy launched by the European Commission in 2023 works on three fronts: promoting the competitiveness of the Union, protecting its economic security, and partnering with like-minded countries. It builds on a growing body of instruments, including the FDI Screening Regulation, the Anti-Coercion Instrument, the Foreign Subsidies Regulation and a range of industrial and defence-related initiatives.

The organisers note that two dimensions remain comparatively underexplored: the economic analysis of economic security, and the implications of economic security policies for market outcomes and the role of government in the economy. The conference asks how economic security can be advanced while preserving the foundations of an open market economy.

This panel explores how economic security considerations are reshaping competition dynamics and influencing competition law and market regulation. Competitive markets have long been treated as a cornerstone of the open market economy, promoting efficiency, innovation and consumer welfare, and the panel asks how competition policy should respond to concerns of resilience, strategic autonomy and security.

Topics may include:

• The role of economic security in merger control
• Economic security and concentrations under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation
• Economic security objectives and the screening of foreign direct investments
• Economic security considerations under Article 102 TFEU
• Economic security and technological sovereignty

This panel explores the growing use of government spending as an instrument of economic security. Governments are among the largest purchasers of goods and services in modern economies, which gives them significant capacity to shape markets, direct investment and influence economic outcomes. As states seek to strengthen resilience, reduce strategic dependencies and support critical industries, public spending has become a central economic policy instrument.

Topics may include:

• The role of economic security considerations in defence and public procurement law
• The Foreign Subsidies Regulation and economic security
• Economic security and state aid rules
• Economic security and 'buy European' initiatives
• Economic security and technological sovereignty

The conveners invite economists and legal scholars to submit abstracts. The call is open internationally and is not restricted to any nationality, institution or jurisdiction, so scholars based in India may apply on the same terms as any other applicant.

Interdisciplinary contributions bridging legal and economic analysis are particularly encouraged.

Abstracts must be submitted through the registration form on the official Radboud University event page by 21 September 2026.

• Title and abstract of no more than 500 words
• Author's name, affiliation and contact details
• The registration form also asks for your name, email and place of work, and allows one file upload for the abstract

Authors whose abstracts are selected will be invited to submit a draft paper of 10,000 to 12,000 words, including footnotes, by 5 January 2027. Notification of acceptance is expected in the first week of October 2026.

The official call does not state any registration or submission fee.

The organisers will provide accommodation in Amsterdam for all invited speakers for two nights, Thursday 21 January and Friday 22 January 2027. In addition, limited funding is available to reimburse reasonable travel expenses.

The conference is supported financially by AKD, Radboud University, SteR and the Department of International and European Law.

The organisers intend to publish an edited volume based on the papers presented at the conference. Authors will have the opportunity to revise their papers in light of the feedback received at the conference and from the designated commentators. Final versions for publication must be submitted by 18 May 2027, and further details on the publication process will be communicated in due course.

Alongside the academic programme, the conference offers several opportunities for networking and informal exchange. Speakers and organisers are invited to a conference dinner in Amsterdam on the evening of Thursday, 21 January 2027. Lunch will be provided during the conference day, which concludes with a reception on Friday, 22 January 2027.