The 'European Universities' initiative is promoted and funded by the European Union, through the Erasmus+ programme, and aims to strengthen strategic alliances between universities in the European Union (EU) and increase international competitiveness within the European Higher Education Area. The Partnerships created cooperate in education, research and innovation for the benefit of students, teachers and society.
 
The "European Universities" project was created at the Gothenburg Summit in 2017, where the European Commission presented its vision for the European Education Area in 2025, which included the creation of a network of European universities working together.
 
European Universities will
... promote European values (human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights) and identity,
and revolutionise the quality and competitiveness of European higher education.
... adopt a challenge-based approach whereby students, academics and external partners can cooperate in interdisciplinary teams to address the major issues facing Europe today;
... develop a shared, integrated and long-term joint strategy for education with links, where possible, to research and innovation, and to society.
European Universities" should act as models of good practice to progressively enhance the quality, international competitiveness and attractiveness of European Higher Education.

This initiative helps higher education institutions to go beyond existing models of cooperation in higher education, in order to gradually achieve the long-term consolidation of "European Universities".