Call for papers: Law and Security
Conference organised by Centre for Law and Security (CERES).
In these turbulent times, Danish, Nordic, and European authorities often operate in a grey zone between war and peace and must be able to handle a range of different security‑policy scenarios. This places significant demands on emergency preparedness – and on the legal framework. How do we in Denmark, the Nordic region, and Europe address the many diverse and current threats without compromising fundamental principles of the rule of law, including human rights and international legal obligations?
Under the theme Law and Security, the conference will bring together researchers, politicians, civil servants, the business community, and civil society from Denmark, the Nordic countries, and Europe to focus on, among others, the following topics:
- International institutions under pressure
- Transatlantic defence cooperation
- European security infrastructure
- Security in the Arctic
The conference spans 1½ days and is divided into a research part and a practitioner part. The research part will be conducted in English, while the practitioner part will be in Danish (with the option to ask questions in English). Everyone is welcome to attend the entire conference, but it is also possible to register for individual parts. PhD students should note that a ½ day PhD course will be organized in the morning of Day 1.
Thursday 27 August
Day 1 will be held in English.
| 9:00 - 13:00 | PhD Symposium (PhD students only, approx. 1 ECTS point depending on preparation) |
| 13:00 - 13:30 | Registration and welcome to researcher track |
| 13:30 - 14:15 | Keynote speech |
| 14:15 - 14:45 | Coffee and cake |
| 14:45 - 16:15 | Panel I: Three presentations (15 minutes each) followed by Q&A/discussion. |
| 16:15 - 16:30 | Break |
| 16:30 - 18:00 | Panel II: Three presentations (15 minutes each) followed by Q&A/discussion. |
| 18:00 - 19:00 | Reception |
| 19:00 | Informal dinner for all speakers and chairs |
Friday 28 August
Day 2 will be held in English and Danish.
| 9:00 - 10:30 | Panel III: Three presentations (15 minutes each) followed by Q&A/discussion. |
| 10:30 - 11:00 | Coffee and croissants |
| 11:00 - 12:30 | Panel IV: Three presentations (15 minutes each) followed by Q&A/discussion. |
| 12:30 - 13:30 | Lunch |
| 13:30 - 14:00 | Registration and welcome to the practitioner track (in Danish) |
| 14:00 - 14:15 | Opening speech |
| 14:15 - 15:15 | Panel debate on international institutions under pressure: Four short presentations (5 minutes each) followed by Q&A/discussion. |
| 15:15 - 15:45 | Coffee and cake |
| 15:45 - 16:45 | Panel debate on the state of the European security architecture: Four short presentations (5 minutes each) followed by Q&A/discussion. |
| 16:45 - 17:00 | Closing remarks |
| 17:00 - | Friday Bar with draft CERES beer, snacks and live music |
We invite paper proposals addressing legal challenges – including international law, EU law, constitutional law, and human rights law – in relation to current security threats facing Denmark, the Nordics and Europe. We welcome contributions on a broad array of topical issues, including for example:
- Emergency law regimes
- The role of the police and armed forces in responding to terrorist attacks and similar incidents
- The work, tasks, and oversight of intelligence services
- Issues of confidentiality, national security, and prosecution
- Special national security procedures and regulations related to, inter alia, foreigners and criminal procedural interventions
- Defence agreements, status of forces agreements, host nation support-frameworks, and similar types of regulation covering the presence of foreign military forces in Denmark, the Nordics, and Europe.
We will aim to include both senior scholars and PhD students in the conference panels. Speakers are expected to cover their own travel expenses. The organizers will provide accommodation.
Submit your paper proposal by 1 May 2026.
Please submit an abstract of no more that 400 words and a short bio to CERES-student@jur.ku.dk
Social events: All registered participants are invited to a reception on 27 August at well as to the “CERES Friday Bar” on 28 August 2026. In addition, all speakers and chairs will be invited to join an informal conference dinner on 27 August 2026.
Conference publication: Depending on the submissions, we aim to publish conference papers in an edited volume or in a special issue of e.g. the Nordic Journal of International Law (subject to peer-review).