The EUNICoast Board of Rectors met in Burgas, Bulgaria, on 17 September 2026, with the leaders of the Alliance’s thirteen member universities. The meeting produced decisions on EUNICoast’s long term strategy, financial sustainability, legal structure, international partnerships and academic freedom.
A strategic plan through 2037
The Board approved the EUNICoast Strategic Plan 2026–2037. The plan sets a common direction for the Alliance across institutional cooperation, education, research and innovation, transformation, societal engagement, policy contribution and sustainability.
The framework is designed to guide implementation and review over the coming years, connecting the Alliance’s different areas of work within a single strategic direction.
Financial sustainability beyond 2028
The Board also endorsed a common direction for EUNICoast’s financial sustainability beyond 2028.
The approach combines predictable institutional support, equitable and flexible contributions, diversified funding and continued oversight at rector level. The aim is to maintain the Alliance’s essential capacity under different future funding conditions.
Towards a common legal entity
The thirteen universities confirmed their intention to work towards a member controlled, non profit legal entity for EUNICoast.
The future entity could provide permanent professional and operational support where collective action creates added value. Its potential functions include funding development, employment of Alliance level staff, shared services, partnerships and external representation.
The proposed structure would preserve the legal identity, academic authority and institutional autonomy of each member university.
Partnerships beyond Europe
The Board supported a structured expansion of partnerships beyond Europe, building on existing relationships and EUNICoast’s links with the Mediterranean, Africa, the Americas, the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea, the North Atlantic and the Arctic.
The partnerships are intended to extend the Alliance’s academic and societal reach and contribute to European priorities concerning oceans, islands, coastal communities, territorial cohesion and international cooperation.
A declaration on academic freedom
The Board also adopted the EUNICoast Declaration on Academic Freedom and Responsibility in the Advancement of Knowledge.
The declaration affirms free and responsible inquiry, institutional autonomy, intellectual integrity and reasoned disagreement as principles for trustworthy knowledge and public confidence in universities.
The Burgas meeting therefore leaves EUNICoast with an approved strategic plan, agreed principles for financial sustainability, a defined direction for its future legal structure and a framework for expanding international partnerships.
The full Burgas Declaration of EUNICoast’s Board of Rectors is available here.
