On 28 November, the European Parliament president Roberta Metsola announced the launch of a permanent forum to debate new policies and laws that protect academic freedom and to monitor limitations imposed on academics in the EU. The new forum was presented by the Parliament’s STOA panel (Science and Technology Options Assessment) for the future of science and technology, which was attended by high-level policymakers and stakeholders.

The Parliament argues there should be a binding legal obligation for member states to respect a list of principles that would constitute a minimum threshold for ensuring academic freedom in its many forms – from government interference to freedom of speech on university campuses – is being safeguarded.

ACA members strongly support the work on academic freedom, through their work on academic protection, support to students and scholars at risk, and academic values. Earlier this month, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) awarded its first Fundamental Academic Values Award to three early career researchers from Austria, Lithuania and Germany to acknowledge their outstanding scientific contribution to the promotion of fundamental academic values, including academic freedom, integrity and autonomy in the European Higher Education Area. The award is financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

More information: European Parliament STOA