EURISGA Jean Monnet Lecture 2025

In combination with the award of the Leiden University Europe Hub Thesis Prize 2025.

In this second edition of the EURISGA Jean Monnet Lectures, Professor Joachim Koops was joined by Ambassador Ulf Melgaard to reflect on the achievements and challenges of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. From 1st July 2025 to 31st December 2025 Denmark held the Presidency at a crucial moment for the EU’s policies in the field of security, but also for Europe’s wider relations with international partners and organisations. The Danish Presidency Programme sought to advance two main priorities. Firstly, a secure Europe (particularly in the light of Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine). Secondly, a competitive and green Europe. In addition, it was stated that it was a priority for Denmark to promote effective multilateralism within the United Nations system at a time when the international legal order, peace, human rights and global justice are severely undermined.

The lecture provided a “fly on the wall” account of the Danish presidency, some of the core obstacles and also looked ahead at the next presidency. During the Q&A many questions were asked about the role of the EU in defending multilateralism (particularly the International Criminal Court and the UN system) and how a balance between European remilitarization and welfare spending could be found.

In the spirit of the EURISGA Chair to bridge education, policy-making and concrete career advice to students interested in the EU’s role in security and global affairs, the lecture by the ambassador also included a section on sharing career insights.

The event was followed by the award of the 2025 MA Thesis Prize to the winner Julia Röhrig, graduate of the MSc Political Science programme of the Institute of Political Science. Her thesis ‘The Politics of Compliance: How Populism Shapes States’ Responses to ECtHR Judgements’ offers a systematic assessment of the effect of populism on compliance with rulings by the European Court of Human Rights. Starting from the premise that there is a rise of populist parties and leaders across Europe that increasingly view human rights and European organisations (and supranational courts in particular) with scepticism and outright hostility, Julia examined the extent to which the rise of populism may affect states’ compliance with the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights.

The event rounded off with an informal reception, where both the MA Thesis winner and the two runner-ups as well as the Jean Monnet Lecturer continued the conversation with the audience.