On Wednesday, 10 June 2026, Prof. Remus Pricopie, Rector of the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA), represented CIVICA – The European University of Social Sciences at the high-level meeting of Rectors and Presidents of European Universities, held in Brussels under the auspices of the European Commission.
The central focus of the agenda was a strategic dialogue with Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness. Discussions addressed the future strategy of the European Universities alliances, their role in strengthening Europe’s competitiveness, international cooperation in higher education, and the development of the European Degree Label, an initiative designed to enhance the quality, visibility, and recognition of joint study programmes across Europe.
“Europe cannot win the global competition through technology and capital alone. It needs strong universities capable of developing skills, strengthening democratic culture, and transforming knowledge into responsible public decision-making. During my intervention, I highlighted the extraordinary efforts made by the European Commission and the Member States in transforming the European Universities initiative from a €30 million pilot project into a genuine pan-European academic movement, supported by complex objectives and multidimensional funding mechanisms aimed at accelerating the transformation of our institutions into truly European universities.
Today, European university alliances such as CIVICA are no longer merely academic cooperation projects; they have become a strategic infrastructure for the autonomy, competitiveness, and resilience of the European Union. They contribute simultaneously to developing the skills required by the economy of the future, creating quality jobs, fostering innovation and economic growth, while also strengthening democratic resilience and protecting Europe’s cultural and political space against external threats.
If we want a Europe capable of responding to the democratic, social, economic, and geopolitical challenges of our time, successfully managing the digital transition, and reinforcing its global role, we must invest in universities as the primary driver of a European development model based on knowledge, innovation, and democratic values,” stated Prof. Remus Pricopie, Rector of SNSPA.
The event, dedicated to strengthening and advancing the European Universities initiative, brought together approximately 150 rectors and university presidents representing 65 European Universities alliances and eight Seal of Excellence alliances. Launched in 2019 and funded primarily through the Erasmus+ programme, the European Universities initiative currently comprises 73 alliances and nearly 650 higher education institutions from 35 European countries.
SNSPA is part of the first wave of European Universities alliances selected by the European Commission in 2019 through the European Universities initiative. Through its participation in CIVICA – The European University of Social Sciences, SNSPA contributes to the development of a European Education Area built on cooperation, mobility, innovation, and civic responsibility.