Scholars at Risk Europe welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the European Commission’s consultation on the annual rule of law reporting cycle.  Academic freedom and institutional autonomy are directly linked to the rule of law. Higher education institutions foster the free exchange of ideas, challenge the status quo and train future scholars, scientists, journalists, judges, and civil and human rights advocates. Like a free media, an independent judiciary and an active civil society, academic freedom and institutional autonomy act as an essential counterbalance to unfettered government rule. The following submission underlines why the annual rule of law reporting cycle should explicitly capture challenges to academic freedom and threats to academics, students, scientists, and researchers in Europe.

Recommendation:
Ensure the annual rule of law reporting cycle effectively and explicitly captures challenges to academic freedom and threats to academics, students, scientists, and researchers in Europe.

Read SAR Europe’s response to the EC questionnaire here.