CLEER Summer School 2026
CLEER and the T.M.C. Asser Institute present their 11th Summer School in EU External Relations Law, from 24 to 26 June 2026 at the campus of VUB University in Brussels, Belgium.
The programme will comprise interactive lectures delivered by renowned academic experts and discussion led by experienced practitioners. All lectures will be held in English. We ask for an in-person participation. The organizers reserve the option to switch to an online format if necessary.
Admission requirements:
- For students, civil servants or practitioners with an academic background or practical experience in law, political science or international relations.
- Please register by clicking on the Green Registration Button and by paying the tuiton fee. Registration deadline is 10 June (as soon as the maximum capacity has been reached the registration will be closed sooner).
- 6 scholarships are available for students attending in person, waiving the tuition fee which will be awarded on the basis of merit and financial need. If you apply for a scholarship do not click on the green registration button but on the ochre button and please provide a motivation letter (motivation for attending the CLEER Summer School and explaining why you should be awarded the scholarship) and CV with your application at the latest on 22 May (final day to submit is 22 May). You will be informed on Monday 1 June. The quality of the application and relevant criteria (financial need and academic affinity with the field of EU external relations law) will be taken into account.
Tuition fee: includes lecture material, visit to the EEAS, certificate of attendance and catering. Accommodation is not included.
- Tuition fee Maastricht University students/Maastricht University alumni: € 310 pp
- Tuition fee VUB students: € 310 pp
- Tuition fee non-VUB/non-Maastricht University students: € 350 pp
- Tuition fee practitioners: € 650 pp
- Tuition fee practitioners 1 day attendance: € 150 pp
Programme on 24 June 2026 (day 1)
| 09.00 | Registration |
| 09.30 | Opening 11th Summer School on the Law of EU External Relations: EU External Relations Law in the Age of Geopolitics: The Power of Law and the Law of Power |
| 10.00 | Andrea Ott: The EU – a divided global actor inside and outside? |
| 11.30 | Merijn Chamon: Mixed agreements: undermining EU autonomous action? |
| 13.00 | Lunch |
| 14.00 | Peter Van Elsuwege: The Law and Politics of EU Sanctions |
| 15.30 | Coffee break |
| 16.00 | Eleftheria Neframi: Green and Digital Transition: External Dimensions |
| 17.30 | Reception and Drinks |
Programme on 25 June 2026 (day 2)
| 09.00 | Eva Kassoti: The EU and the Rules Based International Order: Territorial Disputes before the CJEU in an Era of Geopolitics |
| 10.30 | Coffee break |
| 11.00 | Joris Larik: Weaponizing Market Power: EU Trade Policy in an Era of Trade Wars |
| 12.30 | Lunch |
| 13.30 | Ramses Wessel: Increasing CFSP and CSDP Effectiveness in Times of External Challenges |
| 15.00 | Travel to EEAS |
| 16.00 | Lóránt Havas and EEAS colleagues: Visit to the EEAS – Role of the EEAS in EU external relations |
Programme on 26 June 2026 (day 3)
| 09.30 | Anders Neergaard: The European Parliament in EU external relations |
| 11:00 | Coffee break |
| 11.30 | Antonios Antoniadis and Josephine Norris: Recent developments in EU external relations: Council and Commission perspectives |
| 13.30 | Lunch |
| 14.30 | Keynote by Advocate General Tamara Ćapeta |
Speakers
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Dr Antonios Antoniadis is Senior Legal Counsellor (Head of Unit eq.) in the Council Legal Service and visiting Professor at the UC Louvain (Saint-Louis)
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Prof. Merijn Chamon is professor of EU law at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Visiting Professor at the College of Europe (Bruges). He is member of the Governing Board of CLEER.
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Prof. Tamara Ćapeta is Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union as of 7 October 2021. Before becoming a member of the Court, she pursued an academic career as professor of EU law at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Law.
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Prof. Peter Van Elsuwege is professor of EU law at Ghent University, and member of the governing board of CLEER.
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Lóránt Havas is Deputy Head of Unit in the Legal Department of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Brussels.
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Dr Eva Kassoti is Senior Researcher in EU and International Law at the T.M.C. Asser Institute and the academic co-ordinator of the Centre for the Law of EU External Relations (CLEER).
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Dr Joris Larik is Assistant Professor of Comparative, EU and International Law at Leiden University. He is member of the Governing Board of CLEER.
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Anders Neergaard is Head of Unit in the Legal Service of the European Parliament.
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Prof. Eleftheria Neframi is professor of European Union law at the University of Luxembourg. She is member of the Governing Board of CLEER.
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Josephine Norris is member of the legal service of the European Commission.
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Prof. Andrea Ott is professor of EU External Relations Law and Jean Monnet Chair in EU law at Maastricht University. She is member of the Governing Board of CLEER.
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Prof. Ramses A. Wessel is Vice Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor of European Law and Head of the European and Economic Law Department at the University of Groningen. He is member of the Governing Board of CLEER.
Contact:
Law Events Office for practical questions
Prof. Andrea Ott for content questions