The Palermo Declaration of the FORTHEM European University Alliance in Defence of Academic Freedom

In recent months, we have witnessed growing threats to the autonomy and integrity of higher education and scientific inquiry across the globe. In a number of countries, state actors have begun to question the standards of scientific truth, seeking to advance political or commercial interests at the expense of rigorous, independent research. These pressures have become manifest through attempts to curb academic freedom, by withdrawing funding for research on particular topics, for example in the social sciences and humanities, or by discontinuing established longitudinal research protocols—particularly those addressing environmental issues. Initiatives to promote diversity, equity and inclusion have been targeted and delegitimised. This is unfolding within a broader social, political and media landscape marked by widespread disinformation and where established scientific consensus is given no greater consideration than uninformed opinion. These developments pose a grave risk not only to the integrity of academia but to democratic societies at large.

As a European University Alliance, FORTHEM works to shape the next generation of creative thinkers and responsible citizens by cultivating talent and promoting the fundamental values on which the European Union is built. Through our collaborative efforts, we reaffirm the centrality of critical thinking, academic freedom, scientific truth, open dialogue, and fair representation. Our alliance fosters transnational cooperation, not only between institutions, but among students, researchers, and educators who share a commitment to inclusive and sustainable societal transformation.
In early May 2025, FORTHEM students participated in the Kristiansand European Youth Forum along with young people from Ukraine and the Balkans as a part of FORTHEM Democracy Week. The Forum culminated in the delivery of a Call to Action to the Deputy General Secretary of the Council of Europe, Bjørn Berge. The 100 delegates called upon decision-makers to address disinformation, authoritarianism, voting rights and inequality in the face of economic uncertainty, rising political polarization and increasing threats to democracy. They wrote: “In 2024, we talked about democracy, human rights and freedom of speech. In 2025, we’re talking about authoritarianism, disinformation, inequality and the feeling of being unheard. This isn’t just a shift in language – it’s a shift in reality.”

The presidents and rectors of the FORTHEM partner universities, meeting in Palermo, jointly reaffirm their unwavering commitment to academic freedom. We pledge to uphold a model of European higher education that is rooted in scientific truth and grounded in transparent, rigorous debate. We recognise the complexity of today’s societal challenges and commit to addressing them collaboratively, across borders, through international research and teaching cooperation. We believe that data and scientific findings must be treated as a common good, and that intellectual freedoms must be guaranteed for all members of the academic community. In this spirit, we are dedicated to providing students and staff from Europe and around the world with a safe, supportive space in which their right to open, informed dialogue is respected and upheld.

In defending these principles, we take a collective stand as an alliance, to protect the future of science, education, and democratic societies in Europe and beyond.