The event, fully booked, brought together politicians, experts and academia to explore how academic freedom both in Europe and globally can be best supported.
Speakers included:
- Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament
- Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation
- Victor Negrescu, EP Vice-President responsible for STOA
- MEP Christian Ehler, STOA Chair
- Andrzej Szeptycki, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Poland
- Christina Meinecke-Chalev, Regional representative, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Robert-Jan Smits (Eindhoven University of Technology) and Ferenc Hammer (ELTE University, Budapest) moderated the event.
Full programme, link recording, photos and interviews
Background
Academic freedom is widely accepted as a fundamental value and a condition for democratic societies to function. However, in recent years, we witness a decline of academic freedom in Europe, as well as worldwide.
The European Parliament’s STOA Forum for Academic Freedom, launched in 2022, fosters an open dialogue across the Union to address the challenges this fundamental value faces. The Forum’s annual high-level conference is the highlight of the year.
This event was informed by the European Parliament’s Academic Freedom Monitor: its upcoming edition will report on how academic freedom in the EU is protected legally and in practice. You can already read its key findings and policy options online.
Join the debate on social media (X and LinkedIn): #EP4AcademicFreedom
Interviews and other useful links:
- ‘There is increased pressure on academic freedom’ – interview on academic freedom with Prof. Anne Husebekk of the International Science Council
- Interview with moderator Prof. Ferenc Hammer (ELTE University Budapest, Hungary) on academic freedom and supporting silenced scholars
- Video: ‘European Parliament Forum for Academic Freedom: safeguard this essential right’
- European Parliament’s STOA Forum for Academic Freedom where you can find all studies and academic freedom monitors
- All ESMH articles and videos on academic freedom