On 25 and 26 November, the Council of Europe organised a conference in Strasbourg entitled Academic Freedom in Action 2025, to address the growing pressures on academic freedom and its fundamental role in democratic resilience. Over the two days, representatives from academia, parliamentarians, judges, experts, civil society and international partners examined possible political, legal and institutional responses to the challenges facing universities and academics across Europe.

One session will be devoted to analysing the link between academic freedom and the legal safeguards enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights, with contributions from judges and legal experts and a debate on constitutional guarantees in cooperation with the Venice Commission. 
Another session will focus on refuge programmes for scholars at risk, such as those organised by the University of Padua, highlighting their role in protecting individual rights and the democratic mission of higher education.

During the event, the Report on the Erosion of Academic Freedom in Europe was presented. This study provides an evidence-based analysis and contains recommendations for universities, governments and international partners. The report reveals a steady decline in academic freedom over the last 10-15 years, with structural violations identified in several states.

The event is part of the work that the Council of Europe is conducting within the framework of the New Democratic Pact for Europe and aims, at a time of growing uncertainty, not only to diagnose the challenges, but also to trigger meaningful change through dialogue and cooperation