On 6 March, a consultation meeting with the Coordinators of all European Universities, from the first and second calls, took place in Brussels.

The meeting, under the European Universities Initiative, was hosted by Vanessa Debiais-Sainton, the Head of Unit EAC.B1 Higher Education (DG Education, Youth, Sport and Culture) and José-Lorenzo Vallés, Head of Unit EACEA.A1 European Higher Education.

With diverse topics, such as an update on policy development at a European level, the agenda included as well the communication activities around the outcomes and activities of the alliances, and the investment pathway for European Universities post-2027 – with eyes set on the future and on the financial sustainability, and the deep transformation these Alliances bring.

The European Joint Degree label or the European legal status for alliances of Higher Education Institutions was also addressed as the importance of monitoring the alliances’ impact through a monitoring committee. Closer cooperation among and between alliances and their ecosystems was also discussed.

The next European University Forum will take place in Barcelona from 14-15 September 2023, since Spain will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union during the second half of 2023.

One of the priorities of the Ministry of Universities during the Spanish Presidency is to reinforce the European strategy for universities. It aims to prepare the higher education sector for the future, strengthening the contribution of higher education institutions to face major challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, and population ageing.