The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), in collaboration with the University Francisco de Vitoria (UFV) and the Institute for the Global Common Good (IBCG), will organise the third edition of the European Summer School from 29 June to 3 July 2026 at the historic monastery Oude Abdij Drongen, located just outside Ghent, Belgium. Info & Application
Under the theme “Rebirth or Irrelevance: Europe’s Urgent Choice”, the programme will examine key challenges facing the European Union today, including geopolitical developments, trade tensions, demographic change and the evolving state of democratic governance. The initiative aims to foster dialogue across perspectives and to encourage the development of constructive and forward-looking responses.
Over the course of five days, participants will engage with international experts and peers from across Europe and beyond. The full programme will be published in the coming weeks. The summer school is open to individuals of all professional and academic backgrounds, with particular encouragement extended to young professionals aged between 20 and 35.
Participation fees and Scholarships
The participation fee is €1,200 for the full duration of the summer school and includes accommodation. An alternative fee of €550 is available for participants who do not require accommodation. A number of scholarships are offered to support selected applicants and help reduce the participation fee. Applications submitted by 15 May will benefit from an early-bird rate.
