Bucharest, March 10 /Agerpres/ – Romania will host, starting next year, the long-term Secretariat of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), the Ministry of Education and Research announced on Tuesday.

During the meeting of the Bologna Follow-Up Group (BFUG), held online on Monday, it was decided that the new long-term Secretariat of the European Higher Education Area will be hosted in Bucharest starting 2027. The decision was adopted by representatives of the EHEA member states, comprising 47 countries and the European Commission.

“Romania’s candidacy, submitted by the Ministry of Education and Research in 2025 and supported at all stages of the assessment established by the BFUG and the thematic group specially created for this purpose, received two-thirds of the votes of the members. This success is the result of the long-term political and administrative commitment of the Ministry of Education and Research to the development of the European Higher Education Area,” the quoted source said.

According to the same source, at Monday’s meeting the BFUG approved the replacement of the current arrangement of a rotating secretariat with a long-term secretariat.

Since 2024 the Secretariat has been jointly ensured by Romania and the Republic of Moldova and is hosted by the Executive Unit for the Financing of Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation (UEFISCDI). Romania previously held the Secretariat between 2010 and 2012.

“The EHEA Secretariat supports the implementation of the objectives of the Bologna Process and the European Higher Education Area, the BFUG and its working structures,” the quoted source said.

At present, it is a temporary secretariat that must be re-established every two to three years, with staff provided by the governmental authorities of the country hosting the next ministerial conference.