Sessions

Session I: Future of migration in Europe
Wednesday, 4 June 2025 | 13:00 – 14:30

Chairs:

• Mikołaj Pawlak, University of Warsaw
  
• Marta Pachocka, University of Warsaw

Speakers:

• Marta Cygan, DG Migration and Home Affairs, European Commission (EU)
  
• Alicja Kępka, Ministry of the Interior and Administration (Poland)
• Myroslava Keryk, Ukrainian House Foundation (Poland)
  
• Kevin J. Allen, UNHCR in Poland
• Paola Alvarez, Global Thematic Specialist – Labour Mobility & Social Inclusion, Global Office in Brussels, IOM

This session brought together experts from EU institutions, national governments, UN agencies, and civil society to analyze the evolving dynamics of migration in Europe. The discussion emphasized migration’s persistent character and its growing impact on the continent’s demographic and labor market needs. Key challenges included building comprehensive, trust-based migration governance frameworks, addressing security risks like weaponized migration, and facilitating effective integration – particularly in countries like Poland that have transitioned from emigration to immigration hubs.

Panelists stressed the economic benefits of smart migrant inclusion, especially the positive contributions by Ukrainian refugees, but also highlighted barriers such as data gaps, qualification recognition, and the need for better policy coherence across employment, education, and social integration. The debate called for more agency and stable funding for NGOs, efficient asylum and return procedures, and a shift toward foresight-driven, multi-level governance. The session concluded that successful migration governance in Europe relies on evidence-based policy, trust among stakeholders, and a move from crisis rhetoric to policies rooted in solidarity and competitiveness.

Session II: Demographic change and demographic resilience
Wednesday, 4 June 2025 | 14:45 – 16:15

Chair:

• Anna Matysiak, University of Warsaw

Introduction:

• Anna Matysiak, University of Warsaw
• Fabrizio Natale, European Commission Joint Research Centre (EU)

Speakers:

• Aleksandra Gajewska, Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy (Poland)
• Hanna Vseviov, Ministry of Social Affairs and Communications (Estonia)
• Andreas Edel, Population Europe / Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
• Agnieszka Chłoń-Domińczak, Warsaw School of Economics
• Karolina Andrian, Share The Care Foundation

The session “Demographic Change and Demographic Resilience” gathered leading experts from academia, government, and civil society to address Europe’s evolving demographic landscape, particularly population aging and declining fertility rates. Rather than viewing these trends as crises, the panel promoted seeing demographic change as a source of opportunity and transformation. Speakers highlighted the limited impact of traditional fertility-boosting policies and stressed the importance of comprehensive support, such as childcare, flexible work, and parental leave.

Key discussions included the crucial role of migration in offsetting labor market shortages, the need to increase labor force participation among underrepresented groups (women, older adults), and the importance of tackling regional inequalities through locally tailored strategies. Panelists called for rethinking retirement, redefining old age, and leveraging active aging policies. The consensus was that demographic resilience requires coordinated, long-term, and inclusive policymaking, built on cross-sector collaboration and investment in people throughout the life course.

Session III: Central and Eastern Europe in Transition: Demographic and Socio-Economic Implications for the EU
Wednesday, 4 June 2025 | 16:30 – 18:00

Chairs:

• Alicja Curanović, University of Warsaw
• Marta Jaroszewicz, University of Warsaw
  
• Support: Marta Pachocka, University of Warsaw

Speakers:

• Henryka Mościcka-Dendys, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Poland)
  
• Wasyl Bodnar, Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland
• Jolanta Szymańska, Polish Institute of International Affairs
  
• Laure Delcour, La Sorbonne University
• Alar Streimann, University of Tartu

This session explored the challenges and opportunities of the EU’s enlargement and neighbourhood policies against a backdrop of geopolitical volatility and the war in Ukraine. Experts from foreign affairs, policy institutes, academia, and diplomacy discussed the transformative potential of enlargement for peace, prosperity, and security. The debate addressed obstacles such as “enlargement fatigue”, uneven public support, demanding accession criteria, and risks from external threats like Russian aggression.

Speakers stressed the need for parallel internal EU reforms, democratization, and honest public debate about mutual benefits. Candidate countries were encouraged to view the process as both a geopolitical necessity and a vehicle for long-term modernization. The importance of strategic communication, regional partnerships, and sustained rule-of-law efforts was underlined as critical for future EU enlargement success. The session closed with calls for reinvigorated, inclusive enlargement instruments and participatory processes to secure a stable, united, and democratic Europe.

Session IV: Democratic backsliding
Thursday, 5 June 2025 | 09:00 – 10:30

Introduction:

• Łukasz Zamęcki, University of Warsaw

Chair:

• Agnieszka Lichnerowicz, TOK FM

Speakers:

• Tzu-Li Lin, Tunghai University
• Szabolcs Panyi, investigative journalist
• Łukasz Zamęcki, University of Warsaw
• Anna Wojciuk, University of Warsaw

The session examined the sources, mechanisms, actors, and consequences of de-democratisation, with a focus on resilience and mitigation. The opening framed backsliding as a global, multi-causal phenomenon driven by cultural backlash, nostalgia for the past, economic inequality, and declining trust in democratic institutions. The panel, including international researchers and a journalist, explored how backsliding unfolds across different regions and how scholarly insights can illuminate drivers and indicators.

Key strands included: the interplay of polarisation, transition legacies, and vulnerable economies as precursors to backsliding; the role of social media in spreading performative authoritarianism; and how international networks (including right-wing think tanks and cross-border ideas) contribute to democratic erosion. Three overarching themes emerged: cultural tensions and nostalgic deprivation – often framing things as a return to a perceived better era; the influence of external actors and global narratives in shaping domestic trajectories; and the need to reassess governance strategies to foster resilience.

Speakers emphasized a shift toward democratic resilience and mitigation, recognizing that backsliding is not unique to any one country but a worldwide phenomenon. The session highlighted the importance of reframing the narrative around democracy, strengthening independent media, and rebuilding neutral institutions. Aimed at fostering inclusive, realist responses, the dialogue underscored the necessity of multi-actor collaboration – policymakers, researchers, civil society, and media – in defending democratic norms and ensuring sustainable policy choices.

Session V: Green transformations
Thursday, 5 June 2025 | 10:45 – 12:15

Introduction:

• Diana Ürge Vorsatz, Central European University

Chair:

• Wojciech Jakóbik, Ośrodek Bezpieczeństwa Energetycznego, podcast Energy Drink!

Speakers:

• Frank Siebern–Thomas, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (EU)
• Reena Badiani–Magnusson, World Bank
• Diana Ürge Vorsatz, Central European University
• Jakub Sokołowski, University of Warsaw / Institute for Structural Research

The session explored the multifaceted challenges and opportunities of the energy transition in Europe, addressing critical topics such as the market for renewable electricity, energy poverty, urban improvements, and public awareness to empower citizens throughout this transition. Discussions began with concepts like passive houses and net-zero energy buildings, emphasizing the vital roles of effective energy and environmental policies. Speakers highlighted support mechanisms including social policies and funding instruments like the Social Climate Fund – part of the Fit for 55 Package – that provide financial relief to vulnerable households for energy and transport costs. The session also connected energy poverty to involuntary mobility, examined investment support for industries, and highlighted EU efforts such as monitoring employment and social protection policies, reflecting complexities in policymaking and decision-making. Key debates addressed renewable market dynamics, the role of retrofitting in ending energy poverty, the need for informative policies, and balancing economic competitiveness with social welfare. Attention was given to the disproportionate burden of energy costs on low-income households and the imperative to support them during the transition. The Clean Industrial Deal and forthcoming EU Anti-Poverty Strategy were discussed as strategic responses assisting industries and tackling poverty at large.

Conclusions underscored the complexity of energy transition requiring not only technological shifts but also mental and social changes to build trust and wider inclusion. Effective social cushioning and transparent communication are crucial to making the transition attractive and credible. Emphasis was placed on demand-side inclusion and combating misinformation to foster broad public support. The session acknowledged the energy efficiency tax’s regressive effects on poorer households, urging targeted support for less affluent groups who often face political instrumentalization delaying transition progress. It highlighted the necessity of integrating social and energy policies to achieve just transition outcomes, with Poland noted for its high residential energy use but potential solutions through better architecture and retrofitting. Focus on job quality and intersectoral skill transfer, especially in the digital domain, was recommended to align industrial transformation with social welfare goals. Overall, the session presented a holistic vision of a just, inclusive, and effective energy transition in Europe.

Session VI: EU in the age of technological revolutions
Thursday, 5 June 2025 | 13:15 – 14:45

Chair:

• Renata Włoch, Univeristy of Warsaw/DELab UW/Faculty of Sociology

Speakers:

• Zofia Dzik, Humanites Institute
• Wolfgang Schulz, Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society
• Mina Stareva, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission
• Anna Timofiejczuk, Silesian University of Technology / Poland in Silicon Valley

This session examined Europe’s response to rapid technological change, focusing on the interplay between identity, governance, and human agency in the digital era. Speakers – representing academia, policy, and civil society – debated whether the EU can lead with a normative approach to digital transformation while facing implementation gaps and fragmented governance. The importance of bridging social sciences and humanities with STEM disciplines was emphasized as essential for shaping long-term, value-driven technology policy.

Participants called for anticipatory and experimental governance – moving beyond reactive regulation to proactive, ethical innovation guided by democratic values. Regional representation, particularly from Central and Eastern Europe, was highlighted as vital for co-authoring Europe’s digital future. The session concluded that human agency and inclusive education should be central to EU strategies, and that ethical oversight, civic engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration are key to ensuring technology serves collective societal ends.

Session VII: European Research Area potential in the Social Sciences & Humanities
Thursday, 5 June 2025 | 15:00 – 16:30

Co-Chairs:

• Sara Perry, University College London
• Maksymilian Bielecki, SWPS

Speakers:

• Catherine Johnson, University of Leeds
• Ruth Ogden, Liverpool John Moores University
• Anna Ridká, Czech Trade Union of State Bodies and Institutions
• Frank Siebern-Thomas, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (EU)

The session explored insights from the cross-European CHANSE initiative, focusing on the complexities of transnational collaborative research in digital transformations within the humanities and social sciences. It emphasized knowledge exchange among diverse stakeholders engaged in European digital development, including businesses, trade unions, academia, regulators, and public services, whose interests often diverge or contradict. The discussion revolved around projects such as TIMED and PSM-AP, reflecting on how algorithmic systems and platform economies shape work and home life, and how different regulators, industries, and stakeholders navigate these dynamics. Participants critically examined collaborative experiences across sectors and countries, addressing themes like the challenges and creativity in transdisciplinary work, lessons from fostering stakeholder relationships, and strategies for future multi-stakeholder research partnerships. The session also covered topics like impacts on public service media, trade union roles, digital regulation versus individual freedom, and the importance of safeguarding free time amid digital pressures.

Overall, the session underscored the need for transdisciplinary approaches to address societal challenges, particularly in the social sciences and humanities where data complexity is unmatched. Findings from TIMED and PSM-AP highlighted the importance of including frontline professional perspectives in digital transformation strategies and the pitfalls of simplistic narratives that blame individuals for digital platform effects. The session revealed the substantial benefits that broader collaborations beyond academia can bring in supporting workers and communities through advocacy and policy development. However, it also pointed out that stakeholder collaboration remains under-resourced and often poorly adapted to varying national and professional contexts. Recommendations included investing in longer-term, flexible transnational funding models, enabling follow-up support for collaborative research, promoting accessible policy-relevant outputs, empowering trade unions and civil society in research processes, better aligning grants with national priorities, and advancing nuanced digital literacy and regulation to mitigate detrimental effects of algorithmic systems.

Navigating opportunities and challenges: Early Career Researchers in transnational projects
Friday, 6 June 2025 | 10:00 – 11:30

Co-Chairs:

• Luisa Nienhaus, University College London
• Sara Perry, University College London

Speakers:

• Monika Gołąb, Jagiellonian University
• Dorota Wójciak, Jagiellonian University
• Aneta Pieczka, Kozminski University
• Theofilos Gkinopoulos, Jagiellonian University

Early Career Researchers involved in transnational projects embrace the opportunities of building their research networks and exploring diverse research environments, while also encountering challenges specific to their career stage. This session will delve into key issues including research topic selection, career trajectories, job security and access to funding. Through discussion and exchange of experiences, speakers will share their perspectives on both the challenges and opportunities shaping their academic careers, as well as the role of mentors, host institutions, and funding agencies.