Multilateralism is under pressure. Formal institutions like the United Nations and World Trade Organization face growing strain, while informal arenas such as the G7, G20 and World Economic Forum are becoming increasingly influential. In this shifting landscape, the European Union (EU) must decide whether to double down on defending established institutions or adapt to new, more flexible forms of cooperation. What pathways does it have for defending – or transforming – the rules-based order?
These dilemmas were the focus of the panel “EU Support for Global Governance in a Contested World”, held on August 28, 2025 at the ECPR General Conference in Thessaloniki. Chaired by Hylke Dijkstra (Maastricht University) and with John Karlsrud (Norwegian Institute of International Affairs) as discussant, the session brought together leading scholars to examine how the EU responds to turbulence in global governance.
ENSURED researchers, joined by colleagues from our sister project NAVIGATOR, presented five papers that explored the EU’s role across different governance arenas. Topics included the European Union’s influence in anti-money laundering, its role in climate finance under the UNFCCC, the challenges of regime complexity in global health governance, and its strategic dilemmas in peace and security. Together, the contributions highlighted the trade-offs the EU faces when balancing its commitment to formal institutions with the realities of an increasingly fragmented system.
What emerged was a clear picture of both challenge and opportunity. For the EU, engaging effectively in this contested space means making hard choices about where to invest its political capital and how to remain an influential voice for cooperation. And for ENSURED, the event was an opportunity to showcase some of our findings, work in close partnership with NAVIGATOR, and deepen the conversation about the future of multilateralism.
For more on the state of multilateralism, check out ENSURED's research reports and policy briefs.
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