Message to academic communities The decree-law that merges the University of Lisbon and the Technical University of Lisbon ( Decree-Law no. 266-E/2012Diário da República, no. 252, 2nd Supplement, Series I, of December 31, 2012). It is a particularly important moment in a process in which we have been collectively involved. We are particularly pleased to note that the decree-law respects the logic of participation and democratic decision-making within the two universities, stipulates the integration of the University Stadium into the new University and resolves problems that have existed for decades with the assets of UL and UTL. We would like to thank all those who have worked on this project over the last few years, from the general councils to the senates, from the members of the working groups to the teachers, researchers, students and non-teaching staff. We now have a period of around three months for the drafting, public discussion and approval of the Statutes of the new University. We ask everyone to take part in this debate, helping to shape the contours of the new "University of Lisbon", the result of the merger between Lisbon's two main universities. In the meantime, we are waiting for Parliament to approve the changes to the Legal Framework for Higher Education Institutions (RJIES), granting the new university, as the preamble to the decree-law states, a "legal framework of reinforced autonomy" as a public university (a legal person governed by public law). As soon as the Statutes are approved and ratified by the Government, the process of electing the General Council and, subsequently, the Rector of the new University will begin. At a time when the two general councils are meeting with the rectors, constituting a Statutory Assembly, we invite the two academic communities to participate in a joint solemn session to open the academic year, which will take place on Wednesday, January 16, at 5 p.m., in the Aula Magna of the University of Lisbon (Campo Grande). Lisbon, December 31st, 2012 António Cruz Serra, Rector of the Technical University of Lisbon António Sampaio da Nóvoa, Rector of the University of Lisbon