Author: Katerina Klimoska
Date: 10-02-2026
As a grantee of the CA21133 (GLITSS) Action, I had the opportunity to present my research at the EISA Pan-European Conference on International Relations (PEC) 2025, one of the largest and most influential academic events in the field of International studies. The Conference brought together a diverse international audience of well-known scholars and early-career researchers, offering a high-impact platform to disseminate research findings and to increase the visibility of the GLITSS Action within key academic and policy-relevant networks.
My paper, “Societal Multiplicity and Geopolitical Europe: Unity, Diversity and the Role of Shared Values,”directly engaged with central themes of GLITSS by examining the societal and normative foundations of European unity. Illicit trade represents a critical challenge to these foundations, as it undermines the rule of law, weakens public trust in institutions, distorts economic competition, and worsen security vulnerabilities across and within European societies. By framing illicit trade as not only a criminal or economic issue but also a societal and value-based threat, I contributed to advancing GLITSS’s multidisciplinary and holistic approach.
A key message of the presentation was the importance of safeguarding shared societal values while respecting Europe’s diversity as a source of resilience rather than fragmentation. This perspective resonated strongly with ongoing debates at the conference on geopolitical instability, societal polarization, and the future of European integration. In this context, GLITSS was presented as a timely and relevant Action that bridges research on security, governance, and societal resilience in response to illicit trade.
The support of CA21133 (GLITSS) was explicitly acknowledged during the presentation, both verbally and in the presentation materials. This ensured strong visibility of the Action among an international academic audience and positioned GLITSS as a key reference point for research addressing cross-border threats and societal vulnerabilities. The panel composition provided an ideal setting to highlight the relevance and applicability of GLITSS research beyond disciplinary boundaries.
Beyond the formal presentation, I actively engaged in panel discussions, networking sessions, and informal exchanges throughout the Conference. These interactions significantly extended the outreach impact of the presentation, allowing for deeper discussions on illicit trade, societal resilience, and policy implications. Importantly, they also facilitated the dissemination of information about GLITSS to researchers and institutions not yet involved in the Action or the COST network.
As a concrete outcome of these networking activities, I established several new professional contacts with strong potential for future collaboration. These include researchers from Central and Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean region, areas that are particularly affected by cross-border illicit trade and governance challenges. The discussions opened pathways for future joint research projects, comparative analyses, and collaborative panels that can further strengthen GLITSS’s research network and geographical outreach.
Overall, participation in EISA PEC 2025 substantially enhanced the academic visibility and outreach of the CA21133 (GLITSS) Action. It contributed to disseminating its objectives to a broad international audience, reinforced its relevance within current academic and policy debates, and supported the development of new collaborative links. I remain strongly committed to promoting the goals, activities, and outcomes of GLITSS and to contributing to its mission of strengthening Europe’s resilience against the complex and multidimensional threats posed by illicit trade through research, dialogue, and collaboration.
My gratitude goes to GLITSS, as without their support I would not have been able to attend this high-level conference.
