June 6-9 this year are the EU elections. This means that it is soon 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 where they stand on current issues linked to education and research. The survey was sent out to the parties' first names. All have responded to the survey, except for Alice Teodorescu Måwe (KD).

Scroll down to read more what the parties answered.

This is how the parties responded

First name: Helene Fritzon

1. Do you think that academic freedom needs stronger protection at EU level?	JA. We must protect the freedom of research and promote open science, both in Sweden, Europe and the world. Freedom of research is particularly important in our time, which is characterized by resistance to facts and threats and hatred towards researchers. Authoritarian and anti-democratic forces inside and outside Europe have reduced the independence of research and even forced universities to close. Such departures from our democratic fundamental values ​​must not be accepted in our common union and therefore stronger protection is needed at EU level.
2. Do you think 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, strengthening both the students' personal and professional development and the ties between Member States through increased cultural understanding and language exchange. It contributes to increased competitiveness and research collaborations for Sweden. Therefore, we want even more young Swedes to have the opportunity to study abroad.
3. Do you think that EU research funding should increase?	JA. We want Sweden and Europe to be leaders in international research and we believe that the proportion of the EU's budget that goes to research should increase.
4. Are you interested in sitting on the committee for culture and education (CULT)?	JA. We are the only party from Sweden that has had a member on the committee during the mandate period. The allocation of committee seats is a negotiation, and if given the opportunity, the Social Democrats will take a seat in the committee for culture and education (CULT) again.

First name: Tomas Tobé

1. Do you think that academic freedom needs stronger protection at EU level?	JA. Academic freedom is essential for research and development. In addition, both the member states and the EU as a whole should invest more in research and innovation.
2. Do you think that the number of Swedish students who study all or part of their education abroad should increase?	JA. This 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 study abroad provides. Studying abroad should therefore be facilitated.
3. Do you think that EU research funding should increase?	JA. Research and development is an area we think should be given increased resources at EU level, through reprioritization in the budget. That type of investment pays off many times over and enables the EU to be at the forefront.
4. Are you interested in sitting on the committee for culture and education (CULT)?	DO NOT KNOW. It is too early to say about possible committee seats, but it would be good if the Moderates are represented in CULT.

First name: Charlie Weimers 

1. Do you think that academic freedom needs stronger protection at 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 about academic freedom but we should be vigilant when it comes to trying to resolve issues at EU level. The decision-making power in education policy belongs at the national level and we must respect the principle of subsidiarity. A shift of power to a supranational level would probably not strengthen academic freedom in Sweden.
2. Do you think that the number of Swedish students who study all or part of their education abroad should increase?	JA. Swedish students must have the opportunity to study part or all of their education abroad, but this cooperation must not be used to justify increased budget or decision-making power for the Union. Education policy issues must 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 mean fewer ineffective aid programs and less corruption-inducing grants are urgently needed. This would also free up budget space for larger research investments. It is also important that these funds are targeted at 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 sitting on the committee for culture and education (CULT)?	NO. According to the EU treaties, cultural policy is a national matter. The Sweden Democrats believe that the European Parliament should reduce the number of committees and their scope. Focusing on the core tasks such as free trade and cooperation would be better than trying to expand the EU's decision-making power and spending, which the culture committee focuses most of its time on.

First name: Alice Bah Kuhnke

1. Do you think that academic freedom needs stronger protection at EU level?	JA. Academic freedom is a democratic cornerstone, and is central to ensuring functioning, independent research and studies. Therefore, 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 think 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. It develops, strengthens and deepens knowledge and, in the long run, competitiveness, which is good for all of us. During the pandemic, exchange studies decreased significantly, and we wish for a faster recovery. The Green Party wants to protect the collaborations that our universities have with foreign institutions of higher learning, and wants to encourage Swedish students to apply for study abroad through, for example, the EU's Erasmus program. Students' opportunities to study abroad need to be strengthened and everyone is encouraged to apply for intercultural exchanges of various kinds.
3. Do you think that EU research funding should increase?	JA. European research collaboration is incredibly important, and a key to solving the societal problems we have and are facing. Therefore, I want the next framework program to include increased research funding with a strong focus on the green transition.
4. Are you interested in sitting on the committee for culture and education (CULT)?	JA. Culture and education are issues close to my heart. They form the cornerstones of our democracy and are simply vital policy areas. If I get the opportunity, I would like to work in the committee for culture and education, but it is uncertain if that chance exists.

First name: Emma Wiesner

1. Do you think that academic freedom needs stronger protection at EU level?	JA. (no comment)
2. Do you think 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 the EU's research funding should increase	JA. A larger part of the EU budget should be spent on research funding.
4. Are you interested in sitting on the committee for culture and education (CULT)?	NO. My ambition is to continue working with climate, energy and agricultural issues also during the next mandate period.

First name: Jonas Sjöstedt 

1. Do you think that academic freedom needs stronger protection at EU level?	JA. The Left Party stands up for academic freedom in Sweden and the EU. Research is needed to make visible and analyze oppression and threats to the environment, as well as to generate knowledge for innovations and reforms. Research forms part of the societal infrastructure and needs to grow in scope. The Left Party defends free basic research. We also see a need for supplementary research based on different societal needs.
2. Do you think that the number of Swedish students who study all or part of their education abroad should increase?	DO NOT KNOW. The Left Party has no definite 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 takes place in Sweden or in the world. In order for studies to become an opportunity for more people, they want to increase the level of study funds and especially the grant part. Study fees abroad in particular 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 of 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 the EU's research funding should increase	JA. For the Left Party, it is important that there are enough resources for research to be able to contribute to answering the major problems of our time such as the climate crisis. Climate change is a social construction that must be able to be implemented in practice.
4. Are you interested in sitting on the committee for culture and education (CULT)?	DO NOT KNOW. The Left Party has not yet taken a position on what entry 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 think that academic freedom needs stronger protection at 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 acutely threatened 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 coming term, the issue must be high on the EU's agenda.
2. Do you think that the number of Swedish students who study all or part of their education abroad should increase?	JA. The Erasmus+ program and the opportunity to study for free at colleges and universities throughout Europe are two of the EU's greatest successes. Studying abroad is a unique chance 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 so that more people have the chance to study all or parts 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 courses at all universities and colleges in Europe. It also needs to be easier to "translate" grades from high schools as well as universities and colleges between countries. It is therefore good that the EU is now investigating a proposal for a European education diploma for students who, during their study period, study in more than one EU country.
3. Do you think that the EU's research funding should increase	JA. Yes, we want investments in research in the EU to increase substantially in the coming term. Research has a clear European added value and we see a great need to prioritize research grants in the EU's budget work.
4. Are you interested in sitting on the committee for culture and education (CULT)?	NO. There are many ways to influence the EU's 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 Liberals' agenda. Even if they are mainly national issues, which are decided on a national level, I want to continue working to ensure that the education issues that are dealt with in the European Parliament are characterized by a Liberal approach.

More about the questions

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

Background: In both Sweden and Europe, in recent years we have seen an increased debate about academic freedom. 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 think that the number of Swedish students who study all or part of their education abroad should increase?

Background: Within the EU's joint initiative for growth and employment, Europe 2020, a goal is included that at least 20 percent of graduates in higher education should have studied abroad. In a new proposal from the Commission to the Council recommendation "Europe on the way", it is proposed to raise the target to 25 percent. Of those who were examined during the academic year 2022/2023 in Sweden, nine percent had studied abroad, according to statistics from UKÄ. The figure is still lower than before the pandemic, when the percentage who 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 that, a new framework program is expected to be drawn up and implemented during the coming term. 

4. Are you interested in sitting on the committee for culture and education (CULT)?

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