Antoine De Spiegeleir

Antoine De Spiegeleir is a Researcher in the Department of Law at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, Italy. Joining as part of the 2022 cohort, he works on his doctoral research titled "Narrating International Law at the World Court" under the supervision of Professor Neha Jain (former EUI Professor). His academic profile bridges international legal theory with practical climate change litigation analysis.

De Spiegeleir's research centers on narrative techniques in international legal proceedings, with particular focus on climate change cases before the European Court of Human Rights. His work examines how storytelling frameworks shape judicial reasoning and legal arguments in environmental governance. He investigates the interplay between international human rights law, public international law, and narrative theory, analyzing how masterplots influence decision-making in international courts and tribunals. His Belgian perspective offers unique insights into federal climate litigation approaches and the role of soft law in legal harmonization.

His recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory in climate change litigation analysis, with multiple 2024-2025 articles examining storytelling techniques at the European Court of Human Rights and advisory proceedings. His research reveals how narrative structures shape climate litigation strategies and judicial outcomes, particularly in the Belgian context with its distinctive federal arrangements and innovative legal approaches like "arboreal novelties" concerning tree rights.

As a Senior Editor of the European Journal of Legal Studies, De Spiegeleir contributes significantly to legal scholarship dissemination. His institutional affiliations include the Environmental challenges and climate change governance research project, the International Law Working Group, and the International Thinking and Planetary Futures initiative, reflecting his commitment to interdisciplinary approaches to global environmental challenges.