Multilateralism is under pressure. While formal institutions such as the United Nations and the WTO face pressure, informal arenas like the G7, G20, and World Economic Forum are becoming more influential. In this shifting landscape, the European Union must choose whether to double down on defending the rules-based order or adapt to more fragmented modes of cooperation.

These dilemmas framed the panel “EU Support for Global Governance in a Contested World” at the ECPR General Conference (28 August 2025, Thessaloniki). Chaired by Hylke Dijkstra (Maastricht University) with John Karlsrud (NUPI) as discussant, the session brought together NAVIGATOR researchers and colleagues from sister project ENSURED.

Papers addressed EU engagement across anti-money laundering, climate finance under the UNFCCC, regime complexity in global health governance, and strategic dilemmas in peace and security. Together, the contributions highlighted how the EU balances its commitment to formal institutions with the realities of an increasingly fragmented system.

For both NAVIGATOR and ENSURED, the panel was an opportunity to exchange findings, strengthen collaboration, and contribute to the debate on how the EU can remain an influential actor in global governance.