Universities pitch themselves to EU politicians

Bolstering academia should be central to EU policymaking, a group of European universities has said in a new report intended to convince policymakers and politicians to draw on institutions’ “broad and deep range of expertise, so as to create and shape the future Europe we want”.

The League of European Research Universities (Leru) called in their report published on 23 September for universities to be recognised as the “integrators of society”. They made their pitch as the European Commission prepares to start a new five-year term on 1 November.

“It is critical that all relevant EU policies recognise the broad, pervasive and long-term benefits of university education, research and innovation, and provide the support and environment that will ensure that these institutions continue to flourish,” the report says.