ABSTRACT
The paper explores the complex and evolving landscape of university accreditation within the European context, with particular attention to the implications of the European University Initiative (EUI). Drawing on a comparative analysis of national accreditation models, the study examines the conceptual foundations of accreditation, its historical development, and its relationship with quality assurance frameworks. It highlights the diversity of regulatory approaches across European and non-European jurisdictions, focusing on the legal and institutional mechanisms that govern the recognition of higher education institutions and programmes. The paper further investigates the role of accreditation bodies, their degree of autonomy, and the influence of the territorial organisation on accreditation schemes. In the ground of the analysis of the European landscape, the study assesses the feasibility and legitimacy of a supranational accreditation system within the EU, considering the limitations imposed by the treaties and the potential for institutional innovation. Ultimately, the paper argues that while accreditation remains a prerogative of national sovereignty, the European integration process may gradually reshape the governance of higher education, prompting the emergence of new models of legitimacy and cooperation.
