BFUG Chairmanship

From Prague to Leuven/Louvain-la-Neuve (2001-2009)

The inter-governmental structures for the Bologna Process were established immediately after the Ministerial Conference in Prague (2001). Based on decisions in the Prague Communiqué, the former “enlarged group” became the Bologna Follow-up Group (BFUG). The group was presided by the Presidencies of the Council of the European Union.

From Leuven/Louvain-la-Neuve (2009)

With the Leuven/Louvain-la-Neuve Communiqué in 2009, the Ministers in charge of higher education decided that the BFUG would be co-chaired by the country holding the EU Presidency and a non-EU country. Subsequently, the BFUG agreed:

• to treat the EU Presidency and the non-EU country as two equal co-chairs
• to leave the division of tasks between the co-chairs and the vice-chair to each rotating co-chairmanship
• to apply the alphabetical order when designating the co-chair from a non-EU country.
• to adjust the composition of the BFUG Board by replacing the three elected members with the outgoing, present and incoming non-EU co-chair

Moreover, the host country of the next Ministerial conference nominates the Vice-Chair.

Chairmanship after 2010

* Albania moved due to its BFUG Vice Chairmanship and EHEA Secretariat 2021-2024
** Norway replaces the Republic of Moldova as the co-chair for the January-June 2026 period.
*** The Republic of Moldova replaces Norway, while Norway had initially taken the place of the Russian Federation, suspended from the EHEA.

Each country is responsible for nominating a person who will be in charge of fulfilling the tasks of the co-chairmanship. The co-chairs have a joint responsibility to take forward the aims and actions laid down in the Communiqués and the BFUG Work Programme. The BFUG Co-Chairs, in close collaboration with the Vice Chair and assisted by the EHEA Secretariat, are responsible for the diligent and timely preparation of the BFUG Board and the BFUG meetings. The BFUG Co-Chairs and the Vice-Chair must exercise their chairing roles and other tasks with neutrality.

The BFUG Co-Chairs summarise outcomes and decisions at the end of each agenda point. They lead the way towards decision-making, and finding the necessary compromises. 

The Vice-ChairX ensures the liaison between the BFUG and the authorities of the hosting country/countries of the Ministerial Conference and the Global Policy Forum, as well as the continuity between BFUG Co-Chairmanships.