The EU elections will be held on June 6-9 this year. This means that it is almost time to make your voice heard. But student politics is not completely uncomplicated and SFS has therefore sent out a survey to the top candidates from the Swedish parties in the EU Parliament, to map out where they stand on current issues related to education and research. The survey was sent out to the parties' first names. All of them have responded to the survey, except Alice Teodorescu Måwe (KD).

Scroll down to read more about what the parties responded.

This is how the parties responded

First name: Helene Fritzon

1. Do you believe that academic freedom needs stronger protection at the EU level?	JA. We must protect the freedom of research and promote open science, both in Sweden, Europe and the world. The freedom of research is particularly important in our time, which is characterized by resistance to facts and threats and hatred against researchers. Authoritarian and anti-democratic forces within and outside Europe have reduced the independence of research and even forced universities to close. Such deviations from our democratic fundamental values ​​should not be accepted in our common union and therefore stronger protection is needed at EU level.
2. Do you believe that the number of Swedish students who study all or part of their education abroad should increase?	JA. Studying and living abroad contributes to development for both the individual and society. The EU's Erasmus program makes exchange studies possible for thousands of students every year and strengthens both the students' personal and professional development and the ties between the Member States through increased cultural understanding and language exchange. It contributes to increased competitiveness and research collaborations for Sweden. That is why we want even more young Swedes to have the opportunity to study abroad.
3. Do you think that EU research funding should increase?	JAWe want Sweden and Europe to be leaders in international research and we believe that the proportion of the EU budget that goes to research should increase.
4. Are you interested in serving on the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)?	JA. We are the only party from Sweden to have had a member on the committee during the mandate period. The allocation of committee seats is a negotiation, and if the opportunity is given, the Social Democrats will take a seat on the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) again.

First name: Tomas Tobé

1. Do you believe that academic freedom needs stronger protection at the EU level?	JAAcademic freedom is crucial for research and development. In addition, both member states and the EU as a whole should invest more in research and innovation.
2. Do you believe that the number of Swedish students who study all or part of their education abroad should increase?	JAThis is of course something that is ultimately up to the individual's free choice, but fundamentally it is good to have an increased exchange of knowledge and the type of experience that studying abroad provides. Studying abroad should therefore be made easier.
3. Do you think that EU research funding should increase?	JAResearch and development is an area we believe should be given increased resources at EU level, through reprioritization in the budget. This type of investment pays off many times over and allows the EU to be at the forefront.
4. Are you interested in serving on the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)?	DON'T KNOWIt is too early to predict possible committee seats, but it would be good if the Moderates were represented in CULT.

First name: Charlie Weimers 

1. Do you believe that academic freedom needs stronger protection at the EU level?	JA. Academic freedom should be strengthened by the Riksdag. Freedom of expression is being undermined and in recent years we have seen an intensified debate on academic freedom, but we should be vigilant when it comes to trying to resolve issues at the EU level. Decision-making power in education policy belongs at the national level and we must respect the principle of subsidiarity. A shift of power to the supranational level would probably not strengthen academic freedom in Sweden.
2. Do you believe that the number of Swedish students who study all or part of their education abroad should increase?	JA. Swedish students should have the opportunity to study part or all of their education abroad, but this cooperation should not be used to justify increased budget or decision-making power for the Union. Education policy issues should continue to be decided in the Riksdag. Intergovernmental cooperation works well and should be promoted.
3. Do you think that EU research funding should increase?	NO. The EU should reprioritize its spending. Reforms that involve fewer ineffective support programs and less corruption-inducing subsidies are urgently needed. This would also free up budget space for larger research investments. It is also important that these funds are directed to areas where there is real added value. Ideological control must be avoided. Politicians should not choose winners and losers but promote an innovation-friendly regulatory framework.
4. Are you interested in serving on the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)?	NO. According to the EU treaties, cultural policy is a national issue. The Sweden Democrats believe that the European Parliament should reduce the number of committees and their scope. Focusing on core tasks such as free trade and cooperation would be better than trying to expand the EU's decision-making power and spending, which is what the Culture Committee focuses most of its time on.

First name: Alice Bah Kuhnke

1. Do you believe that academic freedom needs stronger protection at the EU level?	JA. Academic freedom is a democratic pillar, and is central to ensuring functioning, independent research and studies. That is why I want the EU to strengthen the protection of academic freedom within the EU, to counteract the worrying trends we see in some member states and to preserve our democracy. I also want the EU to work to strengthen academic freedom outside the EU's borders.
2. Do you believe that the number of Swedish students who study all or part of their education abroad should increase?	JA. The Green Party sees great value in increased intercultural connections. We want more Swedish students to be given and take the chance to study at universities outside Sweden and we want foreign students to want to study in Sweden. This develops, strengthens, and deepens knowledge and, in the long run, competitiveness, which is beneficial to us all. During the pandemic, exchange studies decreased significantly, and we wish for a faster recovery. The Green Party wants to safeguard the collaborations that our universities have with foreign universities, and wants to encourage Swedish students to apply for studies abroad through, for example, the EU's Erasmus program. Students' opportunities to study abroad need to be strengthened and encourages everyone to apply for intercultural exchanges of various kinds.
3. Do you think that EU research funding should increase?	JA. European research cooperation is incredibly important, and a key to solving the societal problems we have and are facing. That is why I want the next framework programme to include increased research funding with a strong focus on the green transition.
4. Are you interested in serving on the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)?	JA. Culture and education are issues that are close to my heart. They are cornerstones of our democracy and are simply vital policy areas. If given the opportunity, I would be happy to work in the Committee on Culture and Education, but it is uncertain whether that opportunity exists.

First name: Emma Wiesner

1. Do you believe that academic freedom needs stronger protection at the EU level?	JA. (no comment)
2. Do you believe that the number of Swedish students who study all or part of their education abroad should increase?	JA. Swedish students are underrepresented in a European perspective when it comes to studying a semester abroad. Studying abroad is an unbeatable way to both develop as a person and acquire new language skills and competencies.
3. Do you think that EU research funding should increase?	JAA larger portion of the EU budget should be spent on research funding.
4. Are you interested in serving on the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)?	NOMy ambition is to continue working on climate, energy and agricultural issues during the next term of office.

First name: Jonas Sjöstedt 

1. Do you believe that academic freedom needs stronger protection at the EU level?	JA. The Left Party stands for academic freedom in Sweden and the EU. Research is needed to highlight and analyze oppression and threats to the environment, as well as to generate knowledge for innovations and reforms. Research is part of the social infrastructure and needs to grow in scope. The Left Party defends free basic research. We also see a need for complementary research based on different societal needs.
2. Do you believe that the number of Swedish students who study all or part of their education abroad should increase?	DON'T KNOW. The Left Party has no firm opinion on how many people should study abroad. For us, it is important that everyone who wants to study should be able to study, regardless of whether it is in Sweden or abroad. In order for studies to become an opportunity for more people, we want to increase the level of study funds, especially the grant component. In particular, tuition fees abroad can have a deterrent effect on Swedish students who are used to education being free of charge. Therefore, we also want to review the repayment terms for all CSN loans (student loans and loans for tuition fees) so that they are at a reasonable level and do not have a deterrent effect on prospective students.
3. Do you think that EU research funding should increase?	JAFor the Left Party, it is important that there are sufficient resources for research to be able to contribute to responding to the major problems of our time, such as the climate crisis. Climate change is a societal construct that must be able to be implemented in practice.
4. Are you interested in serving on the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)?	DON'T KNOWThe Left Party has not yet decided what position we will have after the election when we are part of a party group with the rest of the European left and will negotiate committee seats.

First name: Karin Karlsbro

1. Do you believe that academic freedom needs stronger protection at the EU level?	JA. Academic freedom needs to be strengthened. Across Europe, freedom of expression and the independence of universities are being dismantled. In Hungary, academic freedom is under acute threat after the government forced the university that criticized Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to leave the country. Recently, the EU has been heavily criticized by several member states and university representatives for doing too little to protect academic freedom despite the warning bells. During the upcoming term of office, the issue must be high on the EU's agenda.
2. Do you believe that the number of Swedish students who study all or part of their education abroad should increase?	JA. The Erasmus+ programme and the opportunity to study free of charge at colleges and universities throughout Europe are two of the EU's greatest successes. Studying abroad is a unique opportunity to meet new friends, participate in intercultural exchanges and improve your language skills. For me, it is therefore important that Sweden and the EU do more to ensure that more people have the opportunity to study all or part of their education abroad. To make it easier for students to apply abroad, we want to see a common admissions portal that makes it easy to apply for education at all universities and colleges in Europe. It also needs to be easier to “translate” grades from high schools and universities and colleges between countries. That is why it is good that the EU is now investigating a proposal for European education diplomas for students who study in more than one EU country during their study period.
3. Do you think that EU research funding should increase?	JAYes, we want investments in research in the EU to increase significantly in the coming term of office. Research has a clear European added value and we see a great need to prioritize research funding in the EU's budget work.
4. Are you interested in serving on the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)?	NO. There are many ways to influence EU education and research policy. Several committees, such as CULT, LIBE (Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) and EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs), all touch on the field of education. School and education policy is always high on the Liberal Party's agenda. Even though they are primarily national issues, decided at national level, I want to continue working to ensure that the education issues discussed in the European Parliament are characterised by a Liberal fundamental view.

More about the questions

1. Do you believe that academic freedom needs stronger protection at the EU level?

Background: In both Sweden and Europe, we have seen an increased debate about academic freedom in recent years. Both the European Parliament and the European Student Union, ESU, warn that there is a decline in academic freedom in Europe and the rest of the world. 

2. Do you believe that the number of Swedish students who study all or part of their education abroad should increase?

Background: The EU's joint initiative for growth and jobs, Europe 2020, includes a target that at least 20 percent of higher education graduates should have studied abroad. A new proposal from the Commission for the Council Recommendation "Europe on the move" proposes raising the target to 25 percent. Of those who graduated during the 2022/2023 academic year in Sweden, nine percent had studied abroad, according to statistics from UKÄ. The figure is still lower than before the pandemic, when the proportion who had studied abroad was 14-15 percent. 

3. Do you think that EU research funding should increase? 

Background: The EU's current framework program for research and innovation, Horizon Europe, expires in 2027. With this, a new framework program is expected to be developed and implemented during the upcoming term of office. 

4. Are you interested in serving on the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)?

Background: The Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) is responsible, among other things, for issues relating to the Union's education policy, including the European Higher Education Area, the promotion of the European Schools system and lifelong learning.