On October 16, 2026, the National University of Ostroh Academy hosted an international academic conference titled «The European Union: Building Leadership in a Changing World». The conference was organized as part of the Jean Monnet Module project «Studies of Principles and Values of European Politics from Pericles to Modern Times» (No. 101127113 — POLIS — ERASMUS-JMO-2023-HEI-TCH RSCH»). It was attended by scholars and graduate students engaged in research on European studies as well as Ukraine’s integration into the European Union.
Dmytro Shevchuk, Dr Sc., professor, vice rector for research and teaching at the National University of Ostroh Academy, and coordinator of the Jean Monnet module project «Studies of the Principles and Values of European Politics from Pericles to the Present», welcomed the conference participants.
«Today we are asking ourselves: What does the European Union’s leadership look like in an unstable world, and what role does it play for Ukraine? We view the EU both as a global player seeking answers to new challenges and as a community of values. We also want to analyze how the full-scale war is affecting Ukraine's European integration»,
In their speeches and presentations, conference participants examined the policy of enlargement as an instrument of the European Union’s leadership. Particular attention was focused on issues of the rule of law, the implementation of principles of justice, and the geopolitical dimension of Ukraine's accession.
Participants discussed the financing of public investments, the effectiveness of government decisions, a project-based approach to public administration, the transition from state administration to European governance, and the training of public administrators. Notable topics of discussion included: the role of parliament during wartime; the «smart village» initiative for community energy security and resilience; and Poland's experience preparing for European integration from 1990 to 2003.
A separate session of presentations was devoted to various leadership models: political, military, business, and media. Speakers addressed the rhetoric of the Ukrainian president during martial law, Ukraine's experience with leadership during wartime, digital communication as a factor in legitimizing authority, the ethical dimensions of management in European business, and the value of local media. In addition, the philosophical and cultural aspects of European studies were explored through discussions on European solidarity in response to the existential challenges of war, theories of justice, the role of cultural institutions, and European cultural borderlands.
The Conference was Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority (European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
