The erosion of academic freedom in Europe

Academic freedom is in peril – and with it, the democratic soul of Europe. Across the continent, universities once seen as bastions of independent thought now face increasing pressures: political interference, legal intimidation, censorship and chilling online harassment.

This timely report, prepared by experts within the framework of the Council of Europe’s Expert Working Group on the Democratic Mission of Higher Education, draws a stark portrait of how academic freedom is being undermined – quietly in some places, brazenly in others – and why it matters for us all. From principle to practice, from outrage to action. More than just a diagnosis, this report explores how multilateral co-operation can be a powerful force for resistance and renewal. It outlines concrete measures, from legal safeguards to early-warning systems, from support for threatened scholars to protections against strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) that can help reclaim academic spaces as places of critical inquiry, democratic dialogue and civic resilience. A call to defend the university as a democratic institution. At its heart, this is not only a report about universities, it is about the future of democracy in Europe. Whether you are a policy maker, an educator, a student or a concerned citizen, this report invites you to understand the stakes and to join a broader effort to ensure that higher education remains a pillar of freedom, integrity and public good.