The entire University of Barcelona calls for peace

The motion in support of Palestine in the senates of Catalan public universities presented to the Senate of the University of Barcelona is part of this context. As it was approved on 8 May, the motion was dealt with by the Board of Trustees, which, following the mandate  that followed, approved these measures:
 

1.    With regard to the first and second points of the Senate’s motion, the University of Barcelona has repeatedly expressed its recognition of the structural causes of the conflict and its commitment to the need for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as well as the release of all hostages. It will continue to do so, as often as necessary, until the destruction and suffering stop in Palestine. A position supported by the repeated resolutions of the United Nations and reinforced by the positions expressed by the International Court of Justice. The University of Barcelona’s commitment to International Law and the defense of human rights is indisputable.

2.    Regarding the fifth point of the motion, the government team commits itself to implement different actions to improve transparency and the consolidation of the ethical principles that bind the University, such as:

a.     A working group with experts. Set up in collaboration with the groups promoting the motion of the University Senate, it will have eight members and will have to present proposals for action before the end of June.
b.     A new internet portal will be created, inspired by international reference examples such as that of the University of Geneva, which will improve transparency, monitoring and guarantee compliance with ethical principles in all international collaborations.

3.    Finally, in response to the sixth point of the motion, the University of Barcelona will write to the Spanish Government and the Government of Catalonia:

a.     Ensure compliance with obligations under international law and break off relations with actors who fail to comply with them.  
b.     Commit to the suspension of all military cooperation with Israel.  
c.     Apply universal justice in matters of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide and, in the case of Spain, actively participate in initiatives promoted by the international community in this regard, such as those recently brought to the International Court of Justice.
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The Governing Board also decided to forward to the Governing Council those items of the motion which required the approval of this body. The Governing Council, in the extraordinary session convened today, 22 May, at 4.00 p.m., approved, with 28 votes in favour, 5 against and 3 abstentions, the following measures with regard to the third and fourth points of the motion approved by the Senate:
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1.    No agreements with Israeli institutions will be established until the conditions in the Gaza area guarantee absolute peace and respect for human rights. In the case of the framework collaboration agreement with Tel-Aviv University, all necessary mechanisms will be activated to break it immediately and indefinitely, and the institutions involved will be informed.

2.    Regarding the cancellation of the University of Barcelona’s agreements and contracts with companies allegedly linked to the conflict, the list recently made public by the Committee for Research and Transparency of Universities with Palestine requires an in-depth and contrasted study. It is also necessary to be alert to the possibility of new information extending this list to other companies not included in the current document. In this sense, it is necessary to verify one by one all the agreements and entities listed. However, given the seriousness of the situation, the University of Barcelona’s governing team assumes the precautionary suspension of all these agreements and arrangements.

3.    The University of Barcelona has no Israeli suppliers in its academic and institutional relations. And this will continue to be the case until guarantees of peace and respect for human rights are obtained.
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4.    The University of Barcelona participates in several consortia to develop research and innovation projects funded by the European Union. Stopping the University’s participation in these projects would not only not serve as a mechanism for exerting pressure on the State of Israel — the projects would go ahead without the UB — but would also infringe the academic freedom of the people involved. However, and once again in view of the seriousness of the situation, the government team has decided:

i. Call on the European Union to block immediately and as a precautionary measure, the participation of Israeli institutions in all projects financed with European funds, in accordance with the European treaties and the principles on which they are based.
ii.    Until the European Union provides these guarantees, the University of Barcelona will not participate in any academic or institutional event in which Israeli institutions are involved.

These commitments will be passed on to the authorities in the motion of the University Senate, as approved.
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Barcelona, 22 May 2024
 

 

^{(1) In accordance with the provisions of the new Organic Law of the University System (LOSU 02/2023), the governing team has the mandate to work in the political direction set out in the senate’s motion and has the democratic responsibility to establish mechanisms that allow this political direction to be materialised in concrete, effective, appropriate and viable actions. The measures presented today in the Governing Council respond to this objective.}

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