The European Commission’s latest Enlargement Package highlights progress toward EU accession and significant advances in higher education and research across candidate countries, creating new opportunities for universities and research institutions.
On 21 October 2025, the European Commission presented its 2026 work programme, ‘Europe's moment of independence’, which sets out measures for a sovereign and independent Europe in the face of global challenges.
On 10 September 2025, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen took stock of the first few months of her second term and presented an ambitious agenda for the future of Europe.
EU-Canada Summit: Reaffirmed commitment to strategic partnership
06/26/2025
At the EU-Canada Summit in Brussels on 23 June 2025, the European Union and Canada reaffirmed their commitment to their strategic partnership and their determination to deepen their cooperation, including in areas such as academic mobility and research collaboration, given the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.
Following President von der Leyen's Political Guidelines for the 2024-2029 European Commission, the Commission aims to create a simpler, more focused, and responsive budget that reflects European strategic priorities. To achieve this, seven public consultations have been launched to gather views of interested stakeholders on how to make the most of the next EU’s long-term budget (2028-2034). The consultation covered key policy areas and was open between February and May 2025 .
EU-UK Summit: Negotiations planned on youth mobility scheme and UK association with Erasmus+
05/27/2025
At the first EU-UK summit on 19 May 2025, the European Commission and the United Kingdom agreed to strengthen their cooperation in the face of a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. To accomplish this, they plan to implement various initiatives and agreements in key areas, including youth exchanges.
‘Choose Europe’: A new EU Initiative to attract global scientific talents
05/26/2025
On 5 May 2025, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, launched the new policy initiative 'Choose Europe' at La Sorbonne in Paris, with the aim of creating the conditions to attract talented scientists, researchers, academics and highly skilled professionals to Europe. In the presence of the French President Emmanuel Macron, von der Leyen emphasised the crucial role of science in driving societal progress in Europe, highlighting existing EU commitments such as the €93 billion Horizon Europe programme.
