Timeline
2017
European Council calls for the emergence by 2024 of European universities in its Council conclusions
2018
European Commission publishes first call for proposals for European Universities
2019
First 17 European Universities alliances become operational
2020
41 European Universities alliances are active
2021
Council Conclusions on the European Universities reiterate support for the European Universities
2022
- 44 European Universities alliances are active
- adoption of the European strategy for universities
- Council Conclusions on the European strategy for universities
- Council Recommendation on building bridges for effective European higher education cooperation
2023
50 European Universities alliances are active
The future of the European Universities initiative
2024
The initiative's aim is to reach 60 European Universities involving about 500 higher education institutions from all parts of Europe.
The Erasmus+ programme will support a policy experimentation project aimed at cooperation between the national and regional authorities on
- creating a supporting administrative and regulatory environment for European Universities and other similar long-standing institutionalised cooperation models
- funding European Universities at national/regional level, as a complement to the grants received at European level
2026 - 2027
Call for proposal to ensure sustainable funding for alliances up to 2028-2029
After the European strategy for universities was adopted, the Commission services started working with European Universities alliances, other higher education stakeholder organisations and the EU countries on an investment pathway for European Universities alliances beyond 2028-2029.
This work aims at facilitating a comprehensive funding approach, complementing the educational dimension with support across all alliances’ missions – including research and innovation – for wider societal benefit. It also aims to seek synergies with national and regional funding.
The investment pathway for European Universities is currently under development, involving all relevant actors.