BACKGROUND


The EMANES Annual Conference provides a forum for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to explore socio-economic trends and regional integration in Europe, the Mediterranean, and Africa. Each year, the conference focuses on a key theme reflecting global transformations. The 2025 edition will delve into the concept of regenerative economies—a paradigm that moves beyond sustainability, aiming to restore and enhance the ecological, social, and economic systems upon which prosperity depends.

This year’s theme responds to growing calls for holistic approaches that not only reduce harm but actively restore natural systems, strengthen communities, and build economic resilience. In a time marked by climate change, conflict, digital disruption, and inequality, regenerative development offers a compelling vision for a future rooted in renewal, interconnectedness, and wellbeing.

For more on past EMANES Annual Conferences, visit:
https://conference2025.emnes.org/previous-conferences

AIMS AND TOPICS


The EMANES Annual Conference 2025 invites contributions that explore how regenerative economic approaches can transform the socio-economic landscape of Europe, the Mediterranean, and Africa. These approaches promote systemic change, balancing human and environmental needs, circularity, equity, and local resilience while leveraging innovation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive governance.

Regenerative economies emphasize not just climate mitigation or adaptation, but restoration, reciprocity, and resilience. They require rethinking how value is created and measured—prioritizing wellbeing, cultural richness, biodiversity, and planetary boundaries alongside productivity and growth. Within this framework, the EMANES 2025 Conference seeks papers that engage with new metrics, financing mechanisms, institutional models, and community-led strategies that enable regenerative development.

This year’s conference aims to:

  • Advance the theoretical and practical understanding of regenerative economies;
  • Explore the transformative potential of circularity, nature-based solutions, and place-based innovation;
  • Investigate the socio-economic and institutional reforms needed to operationalize regenerative development;
  • Promote partnerships across the EU-Mediterranean-Africa region to co-create inclusive and prosperous futures.

TOPICS OF INTEREST


We welcome submissions of high-quality, unpublished manuscripts exploring topics such as, but not limited to:

  • Principles and Metrics of Regenerative Economies: New economic thinking, wellbeing indicators, and frameworks to assess regenerative outcomes;
  • Circular Economy and Systems Innovation: Designing out waste, regenerating natural systems, and promoting circular business models;
  • Green and Blue Transitions: Interactions between land-based and marine ecosystem regeneration, clean energy, agroecology, and sustainable mobility;
  • Place-Based Innovation and Territorial Cohesion: Local development strategies rooted in community engagement, cultural assets, and social equity;
  • Regenerative Finance and Investment: Blended finance, impact investment, green and nature-related financial disclosures, and novel funding instruments for long-term regeneration;
  • Resilient Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions: Integration of green infrastructure, water systems, and biodiversity into urban and rural planning;
  • Labor Markets and Skills for Regenerative Development: The role of green jobs, care work, community organizing, and lifelong learning;
  • Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge Systems: Valuing local and ancestral wisdom in regenerative practices and decision-making;
  • Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation for Regeneration: Business models, cooperatives, and startups contributing to environmental and social restoration;
  • Health, Wellbeing and Inclusive Development: Intersections between planetary health, mental and physical wellbeing, and regenerative practices;
  • Regional Integration and Governance: Policy coordination, participatory institutions, and cross-border cooperation for a regenerative transition;
  • Regenerative Cities and Rural-Urban Synergies: Rethinking spatial development for circularity, food systems, housing, and mobility;
  • Brain Capital and Natural Capital Nexus: Leveraging human cognition, skills, and creativity in harmony with natural systems for inclusive regeneration.

Papers addressing regional complementarities, integration, and policy coherence between Europe, the Mediterranean, and Africa are especially encouraged.

EMANES THEMATIC SCOPE


The Euro-Mediterranean and African Network of Economic Studies (EMANES) promotes research supporting long-term socio-economic visions that are inclusive, transparent, sustainable, equitable, employment-driven, and regenerative. Contributions that align with the broader EMANES research agenda are welcome, including:

  • Institutions and labor markets
  • Role of MSMEs in inclusive development
  • Social business and inclusion
  • Health and wellbeing policies
  • Creative, cultural, and knowledge economies
  • Low-carbon and circular economies
  • Human capital, migration, and job creation
  • Regional integration and resilience
  • Scenario analysis and economic foresight

Important dates


Deadline for Submission: October 10, 2025
Notification of Acceptance: November 10, 2025
Registration Deadline (accepted author): November 15, 2025
Conference dates: December 10 (half day), 11–12, 2025
Submit by email to: emanes.conference@euromed-economists.org

Conference Special Issue: Economic notes


Selected papers will be considered for a special issue of the Economic Notes Journal, offering visibility to innovative contributions on regenerative economic strategies.

PRIZE FOR THE BEST PAPER


Two Best Paper Awards of EUR 2,000 each will be sponsored by the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA).

CO-CHAIRS

WHO THEY ARE


Prof. Rym Ayadi

President, Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA)
Director, Euro-Mediterranean and African Network for Economic Studies (EMANES)

Cinzia Alcidi

Dr. Cinzia Alcidi

Senior Research Fellow, Head of the Economic Policy and Jobs & Skills Unit at CEPS

Prof. Giovanni Ferri

LUMSA University, Rome

Carlo Sessa

Member of the Executive Board of the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA)

Garyfallia (Fay) Selimi

Deputy Director of the Circular Economy & Climate Institute of the European Public Law Organization (EPLO)

Martin Lukac

Professor at the Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague and Coordinator of the ReForest project

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

WHO THEY ARE


Philippe Adair

Philippe Adair

Emeritus Professor of Economics, Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC)

Sami Ben Naceur

Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Middle Eat Center of Economics and Finance

Barbara Casu

Professor of Banking and Finance and Vice Dean at Bayes Business School, City St George’s, University of London

Ralph Chami

CEO & Co-Founder Blue Green Future, Former Assistant Director IMF

Najat El Makkaoui

Professor of Economics, Université Paris Dauphine-PSL

Claudia Girardone

Dean at Essex Business School and Professor of Banking and Finance, Essex Business School, University of Essex

Giorgia Giovannetti

Rector for International Relations and Professor at the University of Florence

Basma Majerbi

Associate Professor, Peter B. Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria

Raul Ramos

Professor, Department of Econometrics, Statistics and Applied Economics, University of Barcelona

Dorothea Schäfer

Dorothea Schäfer

Research Director Financial Markets at DIW Berlin and Adjunct Professor at Jönköping University – JIBS (Economics). Editor-in-Chief of Eurasian Economic Review

George Zestos

Professor of Economics and Jean Monnet Chair of European Integration at Christopher Newport University in Virginia

ORGANISING COMMITTEE

WHO THEY ARE


Yeganeh Forouheshfar

Yeganeh-Forouheshfar.

EMEA Senior Researcher

George Christopoulos

George Christopoulos

EMEA Intelligence & Communication Officer

Maria Ruiz de Cossío

EMEA Senior Project Officer

Paula Pazos Puig

EMEA Researcher

Christine Devisser

Christine Devisser

EMEA Project Manager

Anna Santamaria

EMEA Administrative Officer

Tiago Zibecchi

EMEA Researcher

Daniel Luque

EMEA Assistant Administrative Officer

ORGANISERS


This year’s EMANES Annual Conference will be hosted hybrid in Barcelona by the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA) and the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), in collaboration with the Circular Economy and Climate Institute of the European Public Law Organisation – EPLO, and the EU Funded Projects ReForest (Project Nr. 101060635) and CROSS-REIS (Project Nr. 101136834).

Organised by:

In collaboration with:

Be part of EMANES Conference 2023


Deadline for Submission: October 10th, 2025
Notification of Acceptance: November 10th, 2025
Registration Deadline accepted author: November 15th, 2025
Conference dates: December 10th-11th-12th, 2025