On October 16, 2026, an event dedicated to the anniversary of Magna Charta Universitatum took place in Vilnius — an international document enshrining fundamental principles of academic freedom and university autonomy. EU Commissioner Andrius Kubilius delivered a welcoming speech, noting that he was pleased to welcome guests to his native city. During the ceremony, representatives from universities across different countries signed the charter, thereby confirming their joint commitment to the values of academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and educational institutions' responsibility to society. Magna Charta Universitatum was first signed in 1988 in Bologna and has since united hundreds of higher educational institutions worldwide, forming the basis for a common European understanding of the role of universities in modern society. Kubilius's speech emphasized the importance of international cooperation in higher education and science for the development of the European Union. Such events traditionally bring together university rectors, academics, and members of the scientific community to discuss challenges facing higher education systems, including issues of academic independence, digitalization of learning, and the integration of research activities with the educational process. The official ceremony in Vilnius was part of a series of events dedicated to the development of the European higher education area and strengthening ties between universities across the continent.