Answer given by Ms Gabriel on behalf of the European Commission
8.3.2021
1. The Commission would be concerned about any misuse of international academic cooperation by third-country governments, nationals or institutions. Europe’s higher education and research sectors are built on the principles of academic freedom, integrity and autonomy, which are also reflected in the European Higher Education Area[1] initiative. Furthermore, Article 13 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights[2] mandates that the arts and scientific research shall be free of constraint and academic freedom shall be respected.
2. The Commission takes action to encourage, support and complement Member States' activities in the field of education, while respecting their overall responsibility for educational policy, pursuant to Article 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Agreements to host Confucius Institutes are taken by the education institutions under the principle of academic autonomy. As such, the management of Confucius Institutes is not within the Commission’s competence.
3. More generally, in 2020, the Commission discussed with Member States the need for Europe’s higher education and research sectors to be more aware of potential misuse of international academic cooperation and to be better armed against it. Formal recommendations have not been issued yet.