2026 European Labour Law Young Scholars Meeting

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Reframing Social Security and Labour Law Through Fundamental Rights
in a Deregulatory Context 

EUROPEAN LABOUR LAW YOUNG SCHOLARS (ELLYS) MEETING

12–13 November 2026
LIC Learning & Innovation Center, ULB–VUB
Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels

Conference theme and sponsoring

We are delighted to announce that the 2026 European Labour Law Young Scholars (ELLYS) meeting will be hosted in Brussels for the very first time. The event is organised under the umbrella of the International Society for Labour and Social Security Law (ISLSSL), the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Eutopia.

The central theme of the conference is: “Reframing Social Security and Labour Law Through Fundamental Rights in a Deregulatory Context.”

At a time when deregulation features prominently on policy agendas, its impact on fundamental rights is becoming increasingly significant. This is particularly true for vulnerable groups of the population, whose protection has traditionally been anchored in labour and social security law frameworks. These developments call for critical reflection on both the impact of deregulation and the need to balance flexibility with adequate labour and social protection in contemporary regulatory approaches.

About the ELLYS meetings

The annual ELLYS meetings bring together talented early career scholars (PhD candidates, early-career researchers, etc.) in labour and social security law from across Europe and aim to promote an academic dialogue between them in a collegial environment that encourages the open exchange of ideas. It provides a platform for early career academics to present and discuss their work with peers in an international and inspiring setting. 

To enhance engagement and promote active dialogue, the conference will feature several panels where early career researchers can present their research. Each session will be chaired by a professor or senior academic specialising in the panel's specific theme. They will be followed by a moderated discussion with the audience. 

Additionally, a dedicated poster session will offer six early-stage scholars (within the first two years of their PhD research) the opportunity to showcase their work in an accessible, visual format. Poster presenters are fully integrated into the conference program and are invited to all scientific sessions and the conference dinner.

Practical information 

We invite submissions from PhD students, and other early-career researchers interested in participating. While we highly encourage submission of abstracts for panel or poster presentations, young scholars are also welcome to attend the event as regular participants without presenting. This offers a fantastic opportunity to network with peers, engage with experts, and gain valuable insights into the latest developments in the field.

The official language of the conference is English. All abstracts, presentations, and posters must be in English. PowerPoint presentations are optional, but encouraged to support the presentations. Posters must fit within the broad conference theme and comply with standard academic poster dimensions (specific formatting details will be sent upon acceptance).

The program of the conference may vary according to the number of accepted abstracts, but the conference is planned to begin on Thursday, 12 November before noon and end on Friday, 13 November around noon. 

The conference will be held at the LIC Learning & Innovation Center, ULB–VUB
Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels.

Abstracts

Young scholars who are interested in presenting their research through a presentation or a poster should submit an abstract by Friday, 4 September 2026 (23:59 CEST) at the following email address: ELLYS2026@vub.be. 

All abstracts must clearly outline the scope of the research and its explicit relevance to the conference theme. The abstract should be maximum 5,000 characters (including spaces, titles, footnotes, and essential bibliography). Early career scholars who wish to attend and participate in discussions without presenting must submit a brief abstract, outlining their current research focus, including their methodology, and motivation for attending.

When submitting the abstract, the preferred mode of participation must be clearly mentioned.

The Scientific Committee will evaluate all proposals. If the number of high-quality applications exceeds the available slots, the Committee reserves the right to make a comparative selection based on the relevance and academic merit of the abstracts.

Successful applicants will be notified of their admission by 14 September 2026. The notification will specify whether the abstract has been accepted for a panel presentation, a poster session, or general conference attendance.

Registration fee and Payment

The registration fee is 100 Euros. The fee covers full access to all sessions, the conference dinner (Thursday), three coffee breaks, one lunch (Thursday) and one breakfast (Friday). The registration fee applies to all participants, including panel presenters, poster presenters, and general attendees. Payment must be made via bank wire transfer. Complete banking details and payment instructions will be provided to admitted participants alongside their acceptance notification.

Scientific Committee

Prof. Dr. Eleni De Becker (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)

Prof. Dr. Evelien Timbermont (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)

Dr. Ceren Kasım (University of Hildesheim)

Assist. Prof. Dr. Martina Bassotti (Università Mercatorum)

Assist. Prof. Dr. Luka Mišič (University of Ljubljana)

Local Organising Commitee

Marthe Delodder (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)

Louize Hannah Knops (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)