15-03-2026 10:00

Imagen1-1 ACE²-EU's legal coordination has been strengthened in Gdańsk with the participation of UFV | UFV Study at the Universidad Privada Madrid

Introduction

The ACE²-EU Alliance has met in Gdańsk to make progress on establishing its future legal entity, with the participation of the Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV).

The meeting, held on February 26 and 27, 2026, at the Medical University of Gdańsk, brought together representatives from the partner universities involved in governance, legal preparation, organizational planning, and strategic coordination.

Against a backdrop of regulatory changes, increasing academic mobility, and transnational cooperation, these types of workshops have become essential for providing stable frameworks for joint university projects. Legal and governance coordination has been deemed a prerequisite for upholding shared decisions, ensuring institutional continuity, and clarifying responsibilities among partners operating under different regulatory frameworks.

A workshop focused on governance and formalization

During the working sessions, the teams responsible for institutional design addressed the structural formalization of the Alliance. The shared goal was to establish a legal framework that would enable universities to operate under common rules and standardized procedures.

The workshop focused on collaborative work and a review of reference documents. Participants agreed on criteria for decision-making, the allocation of responsibilities, and internal coordination within the framework of the future entity.

Participants in the ACE²-EU meeting in Gdańsk

Imagen1 ACE²-EU's legal coordination has been strengthened in Gdańsk with the participation of UFV | UFV Study at the Universidad Privada Madrid

Image 1: ACE² EU's legal coordination has been strengthened in Gdańsk with the participation of UFV Estudiar at the Private University of Madrid

The proposal for an AISBL under Belgian law

With the support of external experts in international law, participants analyzed the framework required for establishing an AISBL (Association Internationale Sans But Lucratif) under Belgian law. The analysis examined governance models and statutory provisions that shaped the final structure.

The technical input has helped clarify procedural requirements and implementation challenges. This detailed work has facilitated a discussion grounded in legal requirements and long-term organizational feasibility.

UFV Representation and European Coordination

Representing Francisco de Vitoria University, Juan Pérez-Miranda, Vice Rector for Internationalization, attended the event. He participated in the working sessions alongside the other European partners, in coordination with the leaders of the various areas of institutional design.

Throughout the conference, members also shared experiences from other European partnerships. These comparative examples provided criteria for evaluating structural options, levels of autonomy, and internal control mechanisms.

Funding and next steps

The event was funded by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), as programme of programme for European Universities”* programme . At the conclusion of the workshop, progress was made toward formalizing the partnership, and the alignment of strategic priorities among the partners was strengthened.

In addition, it is expected that the legal incorporation process will continue in the coming months, with new phases of technical work and institutional coordination among the participating universities.