1. EUPRIO Annual Conference 2004 ”COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURES” ”THE SEARCH FOR A COMMON GROUND IN EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION” Malta, September 4th, 2004 C é sar Á lvarez Alonso - Executive Secretary -

2. The Santander Group The SG is an European Universities' Network. Currently, it is composed of 40 Universities of the European Union, Norway and Switzerland. The SG is an European Universities' Network. Currently, it is composed of 40 Universities of the European Union, Norway and Switzerland. It aims at establishing special academic, cultural and socio-economic ties and at setting up specific and advanced facilities as well as privileged channels of information and exchange. It aims at establishing special academic, cultural and socio-economic ties and at setting up specific and advanced facilities as well as privileged channels of information and exchange.

3. Universities in Europe Universities play a major role in our society. Universities play a major role in our society. They need to be viewed as ”institutions”. They need to be viewed as ”institutions”. Strengthening the research function of the universities and consolidating the European dimension of their work are of particular importance in ensuring they can play their full role in the ”Europe of knowledge”. Strengthening the research function of the universities and consolidating the European dimension of their work are of particular importance in ensuring they can play their full role in the ”Europe of knowledge”. It is essential to assure they further develop as strong institutions if they are to be able to achieve their full potential. It is essential to assure they further develop as strong institutions if they are to be able to achieve their full potential.

4. Pluralism in Higher Education Institutions Socially diverse. Socially diverse. Politically diverse. Politically diverse. Multilingual. Multilingual. Multigenerational. Multigenerational. International International Providing safe space for debate. Providing safe space for debate. Open to different intellectual approaches and perspectives. Open to different intellectual approaches and perspectives.

5. Bologna Action Lines Bologna Declaration Bologna Declaration Lisbon Agenda Lisbon Agenda Barcelona European Council Barcelona European Council Prague Communiqué Prague Communiqué Berlin Communiqué Berlin Communiqué

6. Prague Communiqué Lifelong learning. Lifelong learning. Higher Education Institutions and students. Higher Education Institutions and students. Promoting the attractiveness of the European Higher Education Area. Promoting the attractiveness of the European Higher Education Area.

7. The Alßan programme The European Commission contribution to Alßan amounts to € 75 Million The European Commission contribution to Alßan amounts to € 75 Million

8. SANTANDER GROUP SECRETARIAT(Brussels) Alßan Office Communication & Dissemination Valladolid (Spain) Focal Points. Latin America Alßan Office. Porto (Portugal)

9. EU to defeat the Tower of Babel An area with a population over 500 Million inhabitants

10. www.sgroup.be Santander Group Avenue Palmerston, 26 B-1000 Brussels (Belgium)