ERUA’s Call for Peace and Justice amid Global Conflicts

ERUA, the European Reform University Alliance, faithful to our shared humanist values, our traditions of critical engagement, and the defence of academic freedom, expresses its deep concern at the escalation of armed conflicts around the world and their consequences in Europe.

We unequivocally condemn the terrorist acts committed by Hamas, including the abduction of civilians, and call for the immediate release of all hostages. We also call on the Israeli government to end all bombing in Gaza, siege tactics, and forced displacement, which constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.

We also condemn Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and international law.

The proliferation of conflicts contributes to the rise of racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and xenophobia in Europe. We, the universities of ERUA, reject all forms of hatred and discrimination and reaffirm the role of universities as spaces for dialogue, knowledge, critical thinking, and cooperation in the service of peace.

We call on the European Union to act decisively in pursuit of these aims in both Gaza and Ukraine: to protect the most vulnerable and to provide refuge to those fleeing violence.

As members of ERUA, we commit to:

• promoting academic, educational, and cultural initiatives that foster a culture of peace, justice, and dignity;
• ensuring that our academic and scientific partnerships avoid any complicity in violations of international law;
• supporting pathways for the reception and mobility of students and researchers from conflict-affected areas, and facilitating their integration into our communities.

Signed by ERUA’s Board of Rectors: Roman Cieślak (Rector – SWPS University), Plamen Doynov (Rector – New Bulgarian University), Arnaud Laimé (President- Paris 8 University), John McCourt (Rector – University of Macerata), Eduard Mühle (President – European University Viadrina), Dimitrios Papageorgiou (Rector – University of the Aegean), Lluís Serra Majem (Rector – University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria), Inga Žalėnienė (Rector – Mykolas Romeris University).