06.05.2025 EUPeace welcomes the “Choose Europe for Science” announcements by President Macron & EC President Von der Leyen and continues to shape the future of University Alliances

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EUPeace actively took part in the “Choose Europe for Science” event called by French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday 5 May 2025 in Paris, France. The Chair of the Governing Board of EUPeace, Prof. Dr. Evelyn Korn, Deputy President of Marburg University as well as by Prof Zoran Tomić, PhD, Rector of the University of Mostar took part in the discussions. 

EUPeace welcomes the call by President Macron to host international scientists in Europe, especially young scientists, who are looking for a space where freedom of research and of science is guaranteed. This will undoubtably support Europe’s scientific ambitions as stated by President Macron and President Von der Leyen, especially in AI, security, climate, biotechnology & health --- areas close to EUPeace’s Research Hubs. 

Alliances are indeed best placed to enable academic mobility and to offer a large established transnational space for research and teaching committed to academic freedom. EUPeace is about strengthening the enabling conditions for peace: understanding them better through research, nurturing them actively through education, and fostering them broadly through societal outreach and innovative practices. As such, it is committed to advancing academic freedom both within its alliance but also committed to supporting all scientists, academics and students affected by any restrictions to education and research to the best of its capacities. Competitiveness, preparedness and readiness require fundamental research and a mutually enriching exchange and nurturing of research, teaching and industrial pursuits. To this end, EUPeace will study closely the details of the schemes announced in Paris and will make announcements soon. First contacts are being established with some researchers who may be hosted at an EUPeace member university. 

In this context, EUPeace universities will build on the individual initiatives that they have had in place for many years, including to support Ukrainian or Syrian academics and students, inspired in part by the work of international networks such as that of The New University in Exile Consortium, or by the established schemes, e.g. in Germany to attract young scientists ‘back home’ after a post-doc or early career period abroad. 

Following the speeches by President Macron and President Von der Leyen on the premises of Sorbonne University, EUPeace representatives had the opportunity to exchange with other political and university leaders on the future of Alliances as such. These exchanges included the views of Executive Vice-President of the Commission, Roxana Mînzatu in charge of Education, and Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva in charge of Research and Innovation. They were facilitated by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research and recalled the importance of a long-term sustainable and systematic support for Alliances. An Investment Pathway, covering all the missions of universities and Alliances, namely education, research and their services to society will multiply the impact of European science and solidify its place in global competition. EUPeace is ready to do its part.