What changed

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

P10_TA(2025)0196

on aA new vision for the European Universities alliances

(2025/2036(INI))

Committee on Culture and Education

PE770.272

European Parliament resolution of 11 September 2025 on a new vision for the European Universities alliances (2025/2036(INI))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in particular Articles 13 and 14 thereof on the freedom of the arts and sciences and the right to education,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/817 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 establishing Erasmus+: the Union Programme for education and training, youth and sport and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013,

– having regard to the study of 11 September 2023 conducted for its Committee on Culture and Education entitled ‘EU funding programmes 2021-2027 in culture, media, education, youth and sports: first lessons, challenges and future perspectives – Erasmus+’,

26. Recognises the relevance of the European Universities initiative continuing to be a part of the Erasmus+ programme, taking into account the current framework; at the same time, invites the Commission to study the viability of creating a tailor-made solution for financing the European Universities alliances in the post-2027 multiannual financial framework, with the possibility of creating a separate programme with a view to enabling alliances to plan strategically, engage in long-term initiatives and establish enduring cooperation;

✦ Wording Replaces the list of EU programmes with updated names: "the European Competitiveness Fund" instead of "Digital Europe" and "InvestEU".

27. Calls on Member States to commit to co-financing alliances through national budgets and asks the Commission to present a comprehensive investment strategy for the alliances that enables them to fulfil their quadruple mission; notes that this strategy should incorporate synergies with EU programmes such as Horizon Europe, Digitalthe Europe,European InvestEU,Competitiveness Fund, the European Social Fund Plus and the European Regional Development Fund, in order to optimise resources, avoid duplication, strengthen interaction and collaboration and retain their competitive nature;

28. Highlights the fact that, in order to achieve real and sustainable success encompassing quality, excellence and inclusion, support for alliances cannot come solely from the EU budget but should also come from coordinated contributions from national, regional, local and private sources, provided that they can guarantee the autonomy of higher education institutions and safeguard academic freedom;

37. Calls on the Hungarian Government to comply with the rule of law and EU values and to put in place the necessary reforms so that Hungarian students, teachers and researchers of public trust funded universities may benefit from the Erasmus+ programme, including alliances under the European Universities initiative;

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38. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The concept of the European Universities Alliances was first mentioned in the 2017 Sorbonne speech by Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic. It became reality in 2019 and was implemented as part of the 2021-2027 Erasmus+ programme. This idea is backed by a long-standing tradition of cooperation and exchanges between European universities that dates to the middle ages, with examples such as the travels of Desiderius Erasmus to academic cities, or the Grand Tour, a traditional educational trip through Europe, for young men from the 17th to the 19th century. The European Universities Alliance Initiative, in its current form, was designed as a network of universities that promotes student mobility between campuses, and to advance pedagogical innovation. The first Alliances were launched in 2019, and became an immediate success. While the original idea was to launch just 20 alliances, 65 alliances exist today, bringing together more than 570 universities, representing more than half of the student population of the European Union. The calls of the Commission for university alliances were of an open nature, which allowed universities to fulfil them in an open and creative manner when it came to deciding the number of partners, the types of governance, the topics they would address and their forms of collaboration. This successful model has not only enabled the participation of the biggest, most internationally recognised universities, but also that of small and medium-sized universities, and those in the outermost regions, to unite around shared themes and objectives that contribute to the vitality of their territory, offering young people an EU level education, and tackling brain drain. This makes it a highly inclusive project that democratises academic excellence in an inclusive manner. Much more than networks, these Alliances also create intra-European campuses and have become catalysts for legislative changes. They are drivers of innovation, bridging the skills gap and encouraging a new generation of young Europeans to explore and learn. There are several reasons for looking closer into the Alliances, particularly at their future potential and issues that were identified over the years. In a time of increased global insecurity, the Alliances have become a real asset to improve the competitiveness and sovereignty of the European Union. It is therefore necessary to strengthen their capacity for innovation , including in critical and strategic sectors that can continue to achieve security and excellence for the European Union. When academic freedom is under attack, particularly by global actors such as the USA, European Universities Alliances are a tool with which the EU can continue to attract academics from all over the world. To this end, it is necessary to acquire investment and funding for the Alliances, in order to increase their capabilities, strengthen their efficiency, consolidate their models and secure their longevity, aiming towards their future independence. Programmes such Erasmus+ are of vital importance for this. Rather than create new Alliances, these programmes and their funding should support the success of existing Alliances that have already begun to re-shape EU academic excellence and academic freedom.