Panel for the Future of Science and Technology publishes Academic Freedom Monitor 2025

On 23 February 2026, the Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA) has published the European Parliament’s annual Academic Freedom Monitor 2025.

The 2025 edition is divided into two main parts. The first part provides updated measurements of academic freedom in all EU Member States, an up-to-date overview of public debates and research on academic freedom in four selected Member States, and an assessment of the EU’s level of academic freedom in a global perspective. The second part offers a thematic analysis of how certain developments may affect academic freedom in the EU, focusing on political polarisation, recent changes in the US higher education and research landscape, the commercialisation of academia, and foreign interference. In addition, it sets out EU-level policy options, including potential legislative and non-legislative measures, to reinforce support for academic freedom in the Member States.

Academic freedom is widely acknowledged as a core principle of modern higher education and research, as well as a key condition for the proper functioning of democratic societies. In recent years, however, numerous stakeholders have raised serious concerns about the state of academic freedom in the European Union. The European Parliament’s annual Academic Freedom Monitor seeks to strengthen the promotion and protection of academic freedom within the EU.

The report can be downloaded here:

Academic Freedom Monitor 2025 - Analysis of academic freedom trends in the EU