The Council of Europe has consistently upheld academic freedom through key policy instruments, including: 

- The 2012 Recommendation on Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy, affirming academic freedom as central to democratic societies. 

- The 2007 Recommendation on Public Responsibility for Higher Education, emphasising the duty of public authorities to protect both institutional autonomy and academic freedom. 

- The 2000 Recommendation on Academic Research, advocating for the protection of researchers at all career stages. 

- The Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1762 (2006) and Resolution 2162 (2017), addressing academic freedom violations and legal threats. 

- The 2019 Global Forum on Academic Freedom, which reinforced the need for stronger protections amid rising political interference. 

- The Parliamentary Assembly 2020 Recommendation 2189 (2020), calling for a comprehensive review of national legal frameworks and the need for a binding international instrument on academic freedom. 

Find out more about policy development

The Council of Europe’s Education Strategy 2024-2030, "Learners First", and the 2023 Summit of Heads of State and Government have further reaffirmed the importance of higher education’s democratic mission. The New Democratic Pact initiative launched in 2025 by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset intends “to strengthen commitment to democracy, address citizens’ expectations, in particular young people, and restore confidence in institutions through a reimagined, agile, inclusive democracy, in support of European societies’ cohesion”. Against this backdrop, the project on democratic mission of higher education reflects the commitment to protect and promote the fundamental values of higher education, and to advance the work the premises of which were given in the recommendations, while working on adapting our legal and policy frameworks to meet new realities. 

"Academic Freedom in Action" Conference

The "Academic Freedom in Action" Conference, held on 13-14 November 2024 in Strasbourg, marked the first working conference under the Council of Europe's renewed initiative on the democratic mission of higher education. The Academic Freedom in Action conference was convened by the Council of Europe Education department as part of its broader commitment to defending democracy through education and human rights protections. The event was structured around the premise that academic freedom is under increasing strain, with attacks stemming from political pressures, market forces, digital misinformation, and legal ambiguities.  

The conference aimed to:  

- Examine enduring and emerging threats to academic freedom  

- Analyse legal and institutional mechanisms for safeguarding higher education autonomy

- Promote dialogue among universities, legal experts, and policymakers on strategies for reinforcing protections

- Highlight best practices for a robust civic mission within higher education institutions.  

The conference brought together experts from diverse backgrounds, including university leaders, researchers, legal scholars, human rights activists, student representatives, and policymakers, for an interdisciplinary exchange of ideas.  

Find out more about the conference

Further information: Academic Freedom in Action: A Step Forward in Safeguarding Democracy

Report on the Erosion of Academic Freedom

– to be published on 3 June 2025

Throughout its existence the democratic mission of higher education has been crucially important for the Council of Europe, since higher education plays a central role in addressing democratic problems and deficits, and in dealing with grand global challenges. Academic freedom is a fundamental right and a key component of higher education’s democratic mission in the sense that provides essential checks and balances to any well-functioning a democratic system. The Council of Europe has therefore actively promoted and protected academic freedom among its member countries and beyond. This report presents the findings of a study on the ongoing erosion of academic freedom in Europe advanced by the Expert Working Group on the Democratic Mission of Higher Education set up by the Education Department of the Council of Europe.

Academic Freedom Insights

The Academic Freedom Insights series, comprising ten policy briefs, aims to build upon the work of the Council of Europe Expert Working Group on the Democratic Mission of Higher Education, explore key challenges, opportunities, and threats related to academic freedom, serving as both an awareness-raising tool and a resource for policy development.

Find out more about Academic Freedom Insights

Upcoming event:

Global Forum on Higher Education 2025: Renewal of Democratic and Civil Mission

3-4 June 2025 | Charles University, Prague - Czech Republic

Democracy is in crisis throughout the world, with political developments threatening the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Higher education, science, and the pursuit of knowledge are similarly faced with significant challenges at this time. More than ever, colleges and universities have a crucial role to play in the development and preservation of democratic societies. This moment calls for higher education to actively embrace its civic and democratic purposes, as well as stand for and exemplify democratic values including diversity, inclusivity, tolerance, equity, and open inquiry.

The “Global Forum on Higher Education 2025: Renewal of the Democratic and Civic Mission” will provide an excellent opportunity to foster global collaboration, elevate diverse voices from regions around the world, and create space for shared understandings. The gathering will help shape the work global partners can do together moving forward to effectively renew higher education’s commitment to strengthening democracy on campus, in the wider society, and indeed throughout the world.

The Global Forum, hosted by Charles University in Prague on 3-4 June 2025, marks the eighth instalment of a collaborative effort between the Council of Europe and the International Consortium for Higher Education, Civic Responsibility, and Democracy. This conference also marks the second gathering hosted by a larger cooperation—the Global Cooperation for the Democratic Mission of Higher Education—which includes not only the Council and the International Consortium but also the Organization of American States and the International Association of Universities.

Find out more about the Global Forum on Higher Education 2025

Find out more about the previous editions of the Global Forum on Higher Education

Publications:

Higher Education Series