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One abstract per author
Each author may appear on one abstract only, whether submitted individually, as a co-author or within an Interest Group panel proposal.
Submission Guidelines
Prepare your submission
These guidelines set out the requirements for submitting a contribution to the ESIL Annual Conference 2027, including eligibility, required materials, authorship, ESIL membership, selection criteria and what happens after selection.
Individual paper proposals and ESIL Interest Group panel proposals follow different requirements. Please review the sections that apply to your submission before starting the online form.
Submissions must be completed by 31 January 2027.
Before you submit
Prepare the information and materials you will need before opening the online submission form.
Individual paper
ESIL Interest Group panel
Who can submit
Eligibility and core rules
The Call for Papers welcomes contributions from scholars, researchers, early-career academics, practitioners and other professionals working with international law. ESIL Interest Group conveners may also submit complete agora panel proposals through the dedicated panel route.
Submissions should present original work, comply with the requirements below and be suitable for presentation at the conference in Lisbon.
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Joint submissions
Co-authored papers are permitted. Identify one corresponding author as the submission contact and one presenting author to present the paper if selected.
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One agora per paper
Each individual paper proposal must be submitted to one agora only. Agorae 10 and 11 are reserved for complete ESIL Interest Group panel proposals.
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In-person participation
If selected, the presenting author must attend ESIL 2027 in Lisbon and present the paper in-person during the assigned agora session.
Acting only as a panel convener or chair does not count as authorship.
Submission languages
Submissions may be made in English or French.
For each individual paper, use one language consistently for the title, abstract and short biography.
For an Interest Group panel proposal, the panel title and description should be submitted in English or French. Each individual contribution should follow the same language rule for its title, abstract and biography.
Choosing an agora
Choose the agora that best matches the proposal’s central question and contribution. The abstract should show its relevance to both the selected agora and the wider conference theme, “International Law and Future(s)”.
Individual paper proposals cannot be submitted to Agorae 10 or 11.
Interest Group conveners should select the Interest Group agora that best matches the proposed panel: Agora 10 or Agora 11.
Required materials
Make sure you have the following information and materials ready before starting an individual paper submission.
Additional requirements for Interest Group panels are set out separately below.
CV information is collected with the submission but is consulted only at a second stage, after assessment of the abstract, to support balanced panel composition in line with ESIL diversity principles.
Writing requirements
Use the guidance below to prepare the written elements of your individual paper proposal.
Keep within the stated limits and make sure the submission is clear, focused and relevant to the selected agora.
Submission title
Use a clear, specific title that reflects the subject and focus of the proposed contribution.
Avoid placeholders, unexplained abbreviations and unnecessarily long subtitles.
Abstract requirements
The abstract must not exceed 500 words. State the central research question or legal problem, relevant context, main argument or line of enquiry and the approach or methodology where relevant.
Make clear how the contribution relates to the selected agora and engages with the wider conference theme, “International Law and Future(s)”.
The abstract should present a coherent proposal rather than a general description of the topic.
Keywords
Provide three to five keywords identifying the principal topics, legal areas, institutions or concepts addressed by the proposal.
Short biography
The biography must not exceed 100 words. Include your current role, affiliation, principal research interests and relevant professional experience.
Do not include a complete publication list.
CV and selected publications
Upload a concise CV including relevant publications, up to 800 words, in PDF or DOCX format, with a maximum file size of 5 MB.
The CV is considered only at the second stage of the selection process, after the abstract has been assessed.
Presentation format
Indicate how you expect to present your contribution. A conventional oral presentation is permitted, but applicants may also propose an innovative presentation format, such as video, animation, installation or another appropriate approach.
Where you select a non-standard format, provide a short explanation sufficient for the programme committee to understand the proposed approach.
ESIL Interest Groups
Interest Group panel proposals
ESIL Interest Groups may submit complete agora panel proposals through the conference website.
Proposals must be submitted by Interest Group conveners and follow the specific requirements below.
One convener must be identified as the primary submission contact for confirmation, secure access and submission communications.
What to prepare
Each panel proposal must include
Format and composition
Each agora is scheduled for 1 hour 30 minutes and may include a maximum of four participants.
A chair and three speakers is one possible configuration, but the composition may vary according to the proposed format.
Authors whose abstracts are included in an Interest Group panel remain subject to the rule that each author may appear on one abstract only.
Choosing an IG agora
Choose Agora 10 or Agora 11 according to the thematic focus of the proposed panel.
Agora 10 forms part of The Future of “Rules” cluster.
Agora 11 forms part of The Future of “Institutions” cluster.
Panel proposals must be submitted by 31 January 2027.
Selection, membership and diversity
Membership and Early-Career Scholar Prize
Membership requirements depend on the submission route.
For individual paper proposals, the presenting author may join ESIL after selection.
For Interest Group panel proposals, the proposed chair and speakers must already be ESIL members when the panel is submitted.
Applicants requesting consideration for the Early-Career Scholar Prize are subject to additional membership requirements.
Individual paper proposals
ESIL membership
When submitting your proposal, confirm the current ESIL membership status of the presenting author.
If the presenting author is not currently an ESIL member, confirm that they are willing to join ESIL if selected.
Members may provide their membership number where available.
Membership deadline
Selected presenting authors who are not already members must join ESIL by 30 April 2027.
If the membership requirement is not completed by the deadline, the acceptance will be withdrawn in favour of another shortlisted submission.
Early-Career Scholar Prize
Applicants may request consideration for the ESIL Early-Career Scholar Prize when submitting their abstract.
Prize consideration applies to the submitted paper and is assessed separately from the academic selection of the proposal.
For an Interest Group panel proposal, Prize consideration is requested separately for each eligible paper.
The Prize recognises an outstanding paper by an early-career scholar presenting at the Annual Conference or at a pre-conference ESIL Interest Group workshop. Applicants must meet the specific eligibility and ESIL membership requirements set out below.
Who is eligible
Early-career scholars are eligible through one of the following routes.
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Postgraduate degree
Candidates who are currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in law at the time of submission.
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PhD route
PhD candidates, or scholars whose oral PhD defence took place no more than three years before submission of the abstract.
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Early career after a degree
Scholars within the first five years of their career following the award of their most recent academic degree, other than a PhD.
Additional eligibility conditions
Prize candidates must be ESIL members at the time the abstract is submitted.
For co-authored papers, all authors must meet the applicable Prize eligibility and membership requirements for the paper to be considered.
What to provide
If you request Prize consideration, provide the information needed to confirm how each author meets the eligibility requirements.
For a co-authored paper, this information must be provided for every author.
If your abstract is accepted
If your abstract is accepted and you are confirmed as eligible for the Prize, you must submit one paper of 8,000–12,000 words, including footnotes, for consideration by the Prize jury.
The paper must be submitted to the ESIL Secretariat by 1 July 2027: esil.secretariat@eui.eu.
For Prize candidates, this paper replaces the general 3,000-word first draft due on the same date.
Selection and review
Individual paper proposals are assessed by the programme committee, including the relevant agora Chair and representatives of the ESIL Board and the host institution, against the criteria below.
Interest Group panel proposals are assessed as complete proposals, taking into account the originality and relevance of the included contributions, proposed format, selection process, membership and diversity requirements.
Applicants in both submission routes will receive the final outcome by email no later than 31 March 2027.
Selection criteria
The programme committee assesses individual paper proposals against the following criteria.
1. Originality of the contribution
An original and innovative contribution that brings a fresh perspective to the legal question or issue addressed.
2. Originality of presentation
Show originality in presentation, including video, animation, installation or another innovative format, where relevant.
3. Relevance to the selected agora
A clear and substantive connection with the subject and questions addressed by the selected agora.
4. Contribution to the conference theme
Meaningful engagement with “International Law and Future(s)” and the wider questions addressed by ESIL 2027.
5. Diversity and programme balance
Contribution to a balanced programme in line with the ESIL Statement of Principles on Diversity, Equality and Inclusion and the ESIL Guidelines for the Diversity of Conference and Panel Speakers.
Review process
Individual paper proposals move through the stages below before the final programme is confirmed.
1. Completeness and eligibility
The organisers check that the submission is complete and meets the applicable eligibility requirements.
2. Abstract assessment
The programme committee assesses the abstract against the academic, thematic and presentation criteria set out above.
3. Programme composition
CV information is reviewed at a second stage to support balanced panel composition in line with ESIL diversity principles.
4. Decision
Once the selection process is complete, applicants will receive the final outcome by email from the organisers.
Previous ESIL participation
To broaden participation across ESIL events, proposals from scholars who have not previously spoken at ESIL events are particularly encouraged.
Applicants who were selected or invited speakers at the most recent Annual Conference may be considered ineligible.
If your proposal is selected
After acceptance
Successful applicants will receive further instructions after selection.
The steps below apply primarily to selected individual paper proposals; accepted Interest Group panels will receive participant-specific instructions for their chair and speakers.
Speakers in accepted Interest Group panels remain subject to the applicable paper and attendance requirements.
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ESIL membership
If you are not already a member, join ESIL by 30 April 2027. Membership is required to retain your acceptance as a selected speaker.
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Submit your paper
Submit a first draft (approx. 3,000 words, including footnotes) by 1 July 2027. Confirmed Prize candidates submit the Prize paper instead.
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Complete registration
After acceptance, once registration opens, register at the reduced speaker fee, with the early bird rate available during that period.
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Present in Lisbon
Attend ESIL 2027 in-person from 9–11 September 2027 and present your contribution in the assigned agora as part of the final programme.
Drafts may be shared with the agora Chair and other speakers. The programme committee may request amendments before the conference.
Additional information
Selected speakers should also review the registration conditions, funding opportunities and publication route that may apply after acceptance.
Registration conditions
Acceptance does not complete registration. Register separately once registration opens, after programme finalisation. For joint papers, only the presenting author receives the speaker rate.
Accepted IG panel participants receive role-specific registration instructions.
Travel and carers’ grants
A limited number of ESIL Travel Grants and Carers’ Grants may provide partial support.
Grant applicants must be ESIL members by 31 January 2027 and apply by 15 June 2027.
Speakers should otherwise plan to cover their own travel and accommodation costs.
Publication opportunities
After the conference, speakers may submit a final paper for possible inclusion in the ESIL Proceedings by 1 November 2028.
Submission instructions will be provided after the conference.
Originality, data and support
Review the final declarations, data-protection information and support options related to your submission.
Originality and declarations
By submitting a proposal, you confirm that the information provided is accurate, that the contribution is original and that the authorship details are correct.
For individual paper proposals, each author may submit one abstract only, whether individually or as a co-author.
All listed co-authors must have approved the submission and the authorship information provided.
For Interest Group panel proposals, the submitting convener must confirm that the panel was selected through the required process, that the proposed participants meet the applicable membership and diversity requirements, and that each included author complies with the one-abstract-per-author rule.
Data protection
Personal data and submission materials will be used as necessary for conference review, communication, programme organisation and registration-related processes.
Further information about how personal data is handled is available in the Privacy Policy.
Withdrawal and support
To withdraw a proposal or request assistance, use the conference support channel and include your submission reference where available.
Do not send your personal secure link or other confidential access information to support.
Send your proposal
If your materials are ready, continue to the online submission form.
Submissions close on 31 January 2027.
