European Union (EU) values play a significant role in shaping the attachment of citizens and elites to the Union. However, despite their influence on the EU’s foreign policy, these values are increasingly contested and questioned. The effectiveness of the EU in upholding these values and their relevance on the global stage, particularly from non-European perspectives, remains a critical issue.

The first Annual ValEUs Conference aimed to analyze how external critiques of EU values are perceived by European elites and how individuals, groups, and elites from America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East view these values. The conference, held at Nazarbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan, from September 13-15, 2024, examined whether these values can bridge the cultural divide or contribute to Europe's marginalization.

With over 30 contributions from ValEUs scholars, the conference fostered rich interdisciplinary discussions.

For more details, please refer to the conference program below.

https://valeus.eu/news/first-annual-valeus-conference-the-contestation-of-european-values-from-afar/