 The past year has seen a growing recognition that universities are central to the future of the European Union. In the past year, the Guild has been centrally involved in strengthening excellence across Europe and boosting fundamental research through the renewed European research area. We have supported actively academic freedom in Europe and beyond. We have developed new approaches to teaching and learning post-pandemic. We have strengthened our collaboration with the African Research University's Alliance and together with our partners from Aurora, we have reinforced our vision for how research can boost the African Knowledge Society and for how universities can be central to the future AU-EU relationship. Finally, we have reinforced throughout the past year the centrality of the UK and Swiss Association for the future of Horizon Europe. We're deeply grateful to all our colleagues for their fantastic collaboration in another challenging year marked by the pandemic and we're very grateful for the collaboration with partners in other university associations but also with the Commission and other policy makers. So, from all of us at the Guild, we wish you a wonderful holiday. Happy holidays!