Academic freedom, a pillar of higher education and democracy, is under increasing threat in Europe and beyond. At the European Parliament's STOA High-Level Session on Perspectives on Academic Freedom in Europe and Beyond, experts and policy-makers discussed the findings of the 4th Monitoring Report on Academic Freedom.
A growing concern for democracy
In recent years, reports have highlighted growing concerns ranging from political interference in universities and legal restrictions on research to self-censorship and digital harassment. The 2024 Academic Freedom Report underscores this decline, highlighting restrictions in several European countries.
During the session dedicated to global and European perspectives, the Head of the Education Department of the Council of Europe Villano QIRIAZI underlined the urgency of the discussion and referred to the Council of Europe's commitment to the protection of academic freedom through its Academic Freedom in Action initiative.
The Council of Europe's renewed action
He outlined the Council of Europe's long-standing commitment to academic freedom, tracing key recommendations from 2000 to the present. The Council of Europe has launched the Academic Freedom in Action initiative as part of its Democratic Mission of Higher Education (2024-2027) programme. This initiative focuses on
Strengthening legal protection - advocating for a stronger legal framework, including updated recommendations and possible international legal instruments.
Democratising science & civic engagement - promoting open access, public participation in debates related to the dissemination of research results, and university engagement with local communities.
Addressing digital & AI challenges - tackling emerging threats such as algorithmic bias, online harassment and corporate influence on the dissemination of knowledge.
The initiative also proposes the development of a European Charter of Student Rights to ensure that students benefit from the same legal protections for freedom of expression and research as academics.
Challenges and the way ahead
Despite these efforts, obstacles remain. The lack of a specific legal framework for academic freedom at European level makes enforcement difficult. While existing protections under the European Convention on Human Rights provide some legal support, court jurisprudence highlights the complexity of balancing academic independence with institutional autonomy and national regulations.
At the end of the session, speakers reiterated that the defence of academic freedom is a shared responsibility. Universities, policy makers and civil society must work together to ensure that higher education remains a space for free thought and democratic engagement. The Council of Europe's Academic Freedom in Action initiative is an important step forward - but its success depends on collective commitment and concrete action.
