EPRS: Academic Freedom Monitor 2025
27 February 2026
In Part 1, the Monitor takes a look at public debates and studies on the situation in four selected Member States (Belgium, Finland, Italy, Poland) and examines the state of academic freedom in the EU in a global context.
Part 2 contains a thematic analysis of the potential impact of current developments: political polarisation, recent developments in the US higher education and science system, commercialisation of science and foreign interference.
In addition, policy options for possible legislative and non-legislative initiatives are proposed at EU level to better support academic freedom in EU Member States.
The report shows that although academic freedom is high in global comparison, it is under pressure in almost all EU Member States. Freedom to teach, freedom to conduct research and institutional autonomy are particularly affected.
For eight Member States, it shows that the situation has deteriorated significantly over the last ten years (2014-2024). For Germany, the data from the Academic Freedom Index 2025 indicate a measurable, but ultimately only slight decline in academic freedom.
Three new policy options
Based on the findings, three new policy options are presented to supplement those developed in the 2024 report:
Policy option 1
Develop and implement strategies and guidelines for dealing with foreign influence and security risks in the context of international research cooperation. A specialised expert panel could be set up at European level to work closely with national bodies such as the DAAD’s Competence Centre for International Scientific Cooperation (KIWi) and the Dutch Knowledge Security Contact Point. In addition, a specialised unit could be set up in each academic institution as a central point of contact for scientific security for staff and students, covering the European, national and institutional levels.
Policy option 2
Develop a European strategy to promote Europe as a core region for the protection and promotion of academic freedom, including through new strategic alliances with the EU and countries that actively promote and protect academic freedom.
Policy option 3
Develop and implement appropriate measures to combat the effects of political polarisation on academic freedom, in particular by strengthening support for national government agencies, institutional autonomy and administration, as well as academic staff and students.
