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EEAS Autumn School 2026 to examine how human rights shape EU foreign policy

23.09.2026

The EEAS Autumn School 2026, taking place in Brussels on 1-2 October 2026, will bring together students, diplomats, policymakers, academics and civil society representatives to discuss human rights and EU international relations. The discussions will tackle the question at the heart of the European Union’s global role: How the EU defends human rights in a world marked by war, instability and growing authoritarianism.

Autum School European Public Diplomacy Days in Brussels
© European Union 2026

 

Human rights in EU external action

The event will explore how human rights are integrated into the EU’s external policies, from diplomacy and trade to equality, religious freedom and international justice. The Autumn School will gather more than 70 post-graduate students and 38 speakers from across the fields of European and international law and politics and will be hosted at the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels. It is organised in the framework of the European Public Diplomacy Days 2026.

Defending human rights

The EU regards human rights not only as a founding value but also as a practical tool of foreign policy. In that context, the Autumn School will examine how defending human rights strengthens the EU’s credibility, supports the rules-based international order and helps build partnerships based on mutual respect. As conflict and political repression continue to challenge the international order, the programme also reflects the importance of linking values to action. Discussions will look at how human rights are promoted through EU institutions, cooperation with partner countries, support for international law and engagement with civil society.

Opening session

The event will open on the morning of 1 October with welcome remarks from:

  • Isabelle Le-Galo Flores, Secretary General of the European Economic and Social Committee 
  • Petr Blizkovsky, Secretary General of the European Committee of the Regions 
  • Christian Gsodam, EEAS Principal Adviser for Strategic Communication and Policy Planning

The first session on the role of human rights in EU international relations will feature video messages from Sabine Verheyen, First Vice-President of the European Parliament, and Kajsa Ollogren, Secretary General of the European External Action Service. There will also be an academic introduction by Prof Ursula Werther-Pietsch and a keynote by Marta Temido, Member of the European Parliament and First Vice-Chair of the Parliament’s Sub-Committee on Human Rights.

A round-table discussion will bring together voices from the EEAS, the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, the UN Human Rights Office, the European Commission and Human Rights Watch.

Freedom of thought, religion and belief in EU international relations is on the agenda for the afternoon of the first day. The session will include 

  • a video message from Mairead McGuinness, EU Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief 
  • an academic introduction by the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief Prof Nazila Ghanea of the University of Oxford and 
  • a keynote by Constantinos Alexandris, EEAS Religion and Diplomacy Adviser.

The debate will then broaden into a round table featuring policymakers, faith representatives and legal experts, including MEP Zeljana Zovko, EESC member Luca Jahier, José Luis Bazan (COMECE), Imam Yahya Pallavicini, Vincent Depaigneand Nazila Ghanea.

The final session that day will focus on equality and non-discrimination as part of a human rights-based EU foreign policy.

Following an academic introduction by Prof Sophie Robin-Olivier of Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, speakers will examine how equality considerations are being integrated into EU external action.

Participants in the discussion include 

  • Martin Hojsík, Vice-President of the European Parliament responsible for Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law
  • Julia Koch de Biolley from the EEAS Task Force Equality
  • Carina Ohlsson from the European Committee of the Regions
  • Isabelle Le-Galo Flores, EESC Secretary General and 
  • Florence Raes, Director of the UN Women Brussels Office.

Day two focus

The second day, 2 October 2026, will focus on the international protection of human rights in theory and practice. The morning programme will feature 

  • A video message from Ewa Kopacz, Vice-President of the European Parliament and Parliament Coordinator on Children’s Rights (subject to confirmation) 
  • A keynote delivered by Pavlo Pushkar from the Council of Europe, followed by 
  • Exchanges with senior EU diplomats on selected cases.

Those taking part include:

  • Alexandre Stutzmann, Head of EU Delegation to the Council of Europe and fmr Head of EU Delegation to Gaza and the Westbank
  • Marc Fiedrich, Head of EU Delegation in Burma/Myanmar 
  • Gautier Mignot, Head of EU Delegation in Nigeria 
  • Baiba Tavaresa, Head of the EEAS Ukraine Division
  • Prof Jan Wouters of KU Leuven who will provide an academic perspective.

The role of the European Court of Justice in defending human rights at home and abroad, with a keynote and exchange of views led by Andreas Kumin, Member of the Court will feature in the afternoon session.

The Autumn School will conclude with thematic round-table discussions on:

  • EU strategic communication and human rights 
  • human rights in war and conflict 
  • the United Nations and human rights 
  • EU trade policy and human rights 
  • outreach and communication at local and regional level 
  • international civil society and the protection of human rights 
  • the role of the EU Special Representative on Human Rights

These discussions are intended to connect legal and policy debates with practical experience from diplomacy, institutions and civil society.

University and student participation

The event will bring together participants from a number of leading universities, including:

  • Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
  • KU Leuven
  • University of Strasbourg
  • Oxford University
  • Mendel University Brno

Students from Université catholique de Lille, the University of Gothenburg, the University of Białystok, Université de Toulouse, the College of Europe and trainees from EU institutions have also been invited to attend.

EU’s core of human rights

The Autumn School aims to show how human rights’ principles are translated into foreign policy at a time when the pressure on human rights worldwide is growing. The Autumn School is closely tied to the EU’s treaty foundations. Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union states that the Union is founded on values including respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights. 

Article 3(5) says the EU must uphold and promote its values in its relations with the wider world.

 Article 21 sets out that the Union’s external action must be guided by democracy, the rule of law, universal and indivisible human rights, equality, solidarity and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.