On 14 April, EUTOPIA representatives Mattia Bellotti (Secretary General of EUTOPIA), Maëlle Gibbons-Patourel (Central Office), and Maite Viudes (Universitat Pompeu Fabra-Barcelona) joined the European Universities Alliances Coordinators meeting in Brussels.
The working retreat brought together alliance coordinators from across Europe to reflect on the future of the European Universities Initiative and contribute to ongoing discussions with the European Commission.
Throughout the day, participants engaged in a series of working sessions focused on key priorities for the next phase of Erasmus+, including future funding models, mobility, international cooperation, and performance monitoring. Discussions also explored the role of alliances in strengthening Europe’s competitiveness, advancing the European Research Area, and supporting institutional transformation.
A central message emerging from the meeting was clear: while enthusiasm for the alliances remains high, the next phase will require consolidating results, scaling impact, and ensuring long-term sustainability. Coordinators also called for more predictable, flexible, and long-term funding frameworks to support the continued development of alliances.
Internationalisation was another key topic, with discussions highlighting the need to expand cooperation beyond Europe. Proposals such as introducing an “associated partner” status for non-European institutions could open new opportunities for global collaboration within alliances like EUTOPIA.
The meeting also reaffirmed the strategic role of European Universities alliances in shaping the future of higher education, research, and innovation in Europe—particularly in addressing skills gaps, fostering talent, and strengthening links between education ecosystems and society.
For EUTOPIA, the event provided an important opportunity to share experience, contribute to policy discussions, and engage with partners across the FOREU4ALL community and beyond.
