The Standing Conference of Rectors, Presidents and Vice Chancellors of the European Universities (French: Conférence permanente des Recteurs, Présidents et Vice-Chanceliers des Universités européennes) is a non-governmental international organization with the aims of promoting co-operation among European Universities (focusing on the geographic meaning of the word rather than the political one).

In 1955, a first forum of European University rectors is convened in Cambridge, with the support of the British government and under the guidance of the Union of Western Europe. Following this meeting, the second conference takes place in 1959 in Dijon. There, the participants agree to create a politically and financially independent association for inter-university cooperation in Europe.

The Conférence permanente des Recteurs, Présidents et Vice-Chanceliers des Universités européennes (CRE) is thus officially founded as an association in Göttingen in 1964 during its third Conference.

For almost 40 years, the CRE lead conferences, programs and projects promoting discussions between European Universities' leaders and ensuring the creation of solid links between scholars in Europe as well as abroad (most notably with the United States of America and Latin America).The association is also often consulted by European international and national institutions for its understanding of higher education issues.

In 2001, the CRE officially merges with the Confederation of European Union Rectors’ Conference to form the European University Association located in Brussels.