Villano Qiriazi, Head of the Education Department of the Council of Europe, participated in an important exchange of views on the growing threats to academic freedom, held at the European Parliament in Brussels on 14 May. Organised by the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI), the exchange brought together also Magda De Carli, Deputy Director-General at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, and Robert Quinn, Executive Director of the Scholars at Risk Network. The discussion was chaired by Mounir Satouri, Chair of DROI.
The exchange took place against a backdrop of mounting attacks on academic freedom around the world. While much attention was given to the current situation in the United States, speakers also stressed the need to recognise and address similar patterns across Europe, including in long-standing democracies.
In his intervention, Mr Qiriazi emphasised that academic freedom is not only a fundamental right but also a key pillar of democratic societies, signalling broader democratic backsliding. He stressed that only coordinated, multilateral responses can effectively address the complex, cross-border threats that academic institutions and scholars are facing today. He outlined the Council of Europe’s contribution in six key areas:
- advancing shared legal and policy standards, including through Recommendation CM/Rec(2012)7;
- supporting proposals for a European clearinghouse on academic freedom to monitor threats and responses;
- building institutional resilience through capacity-building tools and training;
- ensuring that research internationalisation remains open and values-based, even amidst growing geopolitical tensions;
- countering SLAPPs and societal harassment with protective mechanisms;
- and promoting the democratic mission of universities as civic institutions.
The exchange included a dynamic discussion with Members of the European Parliament, and representatives of the European Commission and the European External Action Service.
