EUA welcomes new EU Commission

The European Universities Alliance (EUA) has voiced its satisfaction with the new European Commission announced by President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker.

Commenting on the announcement, EUA secretary general Lesley Wilson said she was pleased that concerns over the loss of education in a recent leaked document were now unfounded. Wilson commented: “We welcome the fact that the term education is explicitly mentioned in the proposed portfolios of the next Commission. We now look forward, once the new team of commissioners has been appointed, to meeting those who will have responsibilities in education, research & innovation and also in other key policy areas where universities have an important role to play in the coming years.”

The EUA is looking specifically meet with commissioners responsible for regional policy, regarding the implementation of ‘R&I smart specialisation strategies’; energy, in relation to the EUA’s involvement in the SET-Plan; and the digital economy, concerning the impact of the Digital Agenda on the university sector.

On behalf of its members (around 850 universities and national university associations from 47 countries), the EUA said it would continue to take forward its work with the next European Commission and also recently elected MEPs to ensure that the voice of European universities is heard in key European policy debates.

The EUA believes that a key priority for the new Commission will be to ensure the implementation of the EU-level investments in education and research to ensure the consolidation of the European Higher Education Area and the European Research Area.