2025 4EU+ Annual Meeting: Shaping collective solutions for the future
From 26 to 28 November 2025, university governance representatives, academics, students and administrative staff from the eight member universities* of the 4EU+ European University Alliance gathered at the University of Geneva for its Annual Meeting. A delegation from Sorbonne University were among the event’s participants, representing the university and contributing to the alliance’s working groups and bodies at all levels.
At the heart of Europe for the 2025 edition
The Annual Meeting is a key moment in the 4EU+ academic calendar, allowing its community to take stock of the past year, celebrate the achievements accomplished and look ahead to the future. This year’s edition was hosted by the University of Geneva, in the heart of the city itself - a global centre for diplomacy and innovation in the centre of Europe.
Following an initial day of working meetings for the alliance’s governing bodies, its student committee, flagship and working groups, the meeting’s formal ceremony took place on 27 November, with an opening speech from Prof Audrey Leuba, Rector of the University of Geneva. She reminded the alliance of the aptness of Geneva as the host for this year’s meeting: “universities question the world to anticipate future transformations and prepare clear-minded, inventive, creative and responsible minds. Geneva is the right place to pursue this mission. Here, at the heart of global diplomacy, we can connect academic expertise with global issues that shape our world.”
Her speech was followed by an inspiring keynote from Micheline Calmy-Rey, former President of the Swiss Confederation, who highlighted the core values, mission and societal responsibility of universities, particularly at a time when these values face growing challenges. She insisted on the duty that universities all share in contributing to global governance, and leading major transformations, including shifting societies from industry-based economies to knowledge economies.
Committed involvement from Sorbonne University
A delegation of staff and students from Sorbonne University were present at the Annual Meeting, actively contributing to the various meetings and presentations. Members of the delegation included Guillaume Fiquet, Vice-President for International Relations, Regional and Socio-economic Partnerships, Elisabeth Angel-Perez, Vice-President for Research and Innovation, Sabine Bottin-Rousseau, 4EU+ Senior Advisor and Coordinator at Sorbonne University level, and Bernold Hasenknopf, Senior Advisor for European Commitment, alongside representatives of the university’s student, academic and administrative communities.
Bernold Hasenknopf, Chair of the 4EU+ Academic Council, gave one of the meeting’s keynote speeches, reflecting on the achievements made in the past year, which include a key report on student representation in 4EU+. In a profound allocution, he spoke of the situation European universities face today; a situation where political scrutiny and funding challenges threaten academic freedom, and restrictive visa regulations limit academic exchange and mobilities. At a time when universities around the world are framed as the problem, he reminded the alliance that universities are an essential part of the solution, driving innovation and educating generations who will deploy the solutions societies need: “what we (European universities) achieve collectively has the power to resonate far beyond our campuses.”
Representing the alliance’s student community, Sacha Green, Chair of the 4EU+ Student Committee and a Master’s student in European Affairs at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of Sorbonne University, was also one of the meeting’s key speakers. He reminded participants that including students and ensuring their representation is a crucial factor in securing the alliance’s success. He concluded by passing on the role of Student Committee Chair to a new student representative, Céline Borga, a Master’s student in European and International Law at the University of Geneva.
The alliance also learnt about the many academic and research projects of the past year, coordinated by the four Flagships, thematic areas which structure interdisciplinary cooperation in research, teaching, and innovation between the eight member universities. Co-coordinator of Flagship 4 for Environmental Transitions, David Siaussat, a professor in environmental science and Senior Advisor for Sustainable Development at Sorbonne University, spoke of some of the achievements accomplished, including the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s in European Environmental Economics and Policy (M3EP) and the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s in Global Environment and Development (MERGED), which are receiving a growing number of applications and epitomise the alliance’s mission of collective collaboration and shared opportunities.
Looking ahead to new horizons for the alliance
The Annual Meeting concluded with key contributions from Elena Del Giorgio, 4EU+ Secretary General, who shared the Alliance's most recent developments and transformations, which include a legal entity based in Brussels (ASBL).
Rector Alojzy Z. Nowak of the University of Warsaw summarised the past year for the 4EU+ presidency at UW, before officially handing over the 4EU+ Presidency to Rector Audrey Leuba and the University of Geneva, who will coordinate the Alliance in the coming year.
An essential moment for strengthening collaboration between the alliance’s member universities, the next 2026 Annual Meeting will be hosted by Paris-Panthéon-Assas University, in Paris.
* Charles University, Heidelberg University, Paris-Panthéon-Assas University, University of Copenhagen, University of Geneva, University of Milan, University of Warsaw, Sorbonne University.
Images of the 2025 Annual Meeting
