The European Parliament’s STOA Forum: Safeguarding Academic Freedom Across the EU

The European Parliament’s STOA Forum: Safeguarding Academic Freedom Across the EU 1024 644 Open and Universal Science (OPUS) Project

Academic freedom, a cornerstone of democratic societies, is increasingly under threat both in Europe and globally. Recognizing the urgency of protecting this essential value, the European Parliament launched the STOA Forum for Academic Freedom in 2022. This initiative serves as a platform for open dialogue, fostering collaboration among policymakers, experts, and academia to address the challenges facing academic freedom today.

The Forum’s annual high-level conference is its flagship event, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss how academic freedom can be upheld and strengthened. The event also highlights findings from the EP Academic Freedom Monitor, which assesses the legal and practical protection of academic freedom within the European Union.

Programme Overview

Part I: Opening Session and Panel Discussion

Location: Library Reading Room SPINELLI 5D
Time: 14:00 – 15:30

The event begins with opening speeches by notable figures:

  • Christian EHLER, STOA Chair
  • Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament
  • Andrzej SZEPTYCKI, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Poland
  • Ekaterina ZAHARIEVA, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation

This is followed by a panel discussion on the state of academic freedom in the EU—law and practice, featuring:

  • Marc LEMAÎTRE, Director General for Research and Innovation, European Commission
  • Milena ŽIC FUCHS, Member of the European Research Council – Scientific Council
  • Andrzej SZEPTYCKI, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Poland
  • Moderator: Robert-Jan SMITS, President of the Executive Board, Eindhoven University of Technology

Part II: Parallel Sessions

Time: 15:45 – 16:45

Participants will choose between two focused sessions:

  1. International Perspectives on Academic Freedom
    • Panelists include experts from the UN, the Council of Europe, and former ministers, such as:
      • Christina MEINECKE-CHALEV, UNHCHR Regional Representative
      • Villano QIRIAZI, Head of the Council of Europe Education Department
      • Robbert DIJKGRAAF, Former Minister of Education, Culture and Science, The Netherlands
      • Moderator: Robert-Jan SMITS
  2. Furthering the Assessment of Academic Freedom
    • Discussions will center on the concept, methodology, and monitoring of academic freedom, featuring:
      • Professor Peter MAASSEN, University of Oslo
      • Professor Vasiliki KOSTA and Dr Olga CERAN, University of Leiden
      • Moderator: Ferenc HAMMER, ELTE University, Budapest

Both sessions will conclude with an interactive Q&A.

Closing Remarks

Time: 16:45 – 17:00

The event concludes with reflections from:

  • Christian EHLER, STOA Chair
  • Victor NEGRESCU, EP Vice-President responsible for STOA

Key Takeaways

The STOA Forum’s annual conference underscores the importance of academic freedom as a pillar of democracy. By engaging with diverse perspectives and presenting findings from the Academic Freedom Monitor, the event aims to create actionable strategies to safeguard this fundamental value across Europe.

The event will be conducted in English and live-streamed for those unable to attend in person. A confirmation email will be sent to registered participants, and all are encouraged to check their spam folders for updates.

The event will be webstreamed here.

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