On April 4, 2017, the Hungarian parliament voted in favor of a government plan to regulate foreign-based universities to the degree that might lead to the closure of Central European University (CEU).
As we have previously reported, last week, Zoltán Balog, the Minister of Human Resources, submitted a bill to parliament based on claims of “irregularities” found in the operation of foreign-based universities. While it is not specifically named, it has been widely noted that the legislation seems to target the Central European University.
A total of 123 MPs voted for the bill, widely referred to as Lex CEU, and 38 opposition MPs voted against it.
Starting January 1, 2018, CEU will no longer be permitted to enroll new students in any programs unless an agreement is reached between the United States government, the State of New York, and the Hungarian government by September 2017. In addition, the legislation passed today will force CEU to open a campus in New York State (where it is also accredited) and change its name, and the legislation will also eliminate a waiver that allows academic staff from nonEU nations to work at the university without a work permit.
Hungarian President János Áder has five days to sign the new piece of legislation or to send it back to Parliament with a request for a judicial review from the Constitutional Court.
We at Endangered Scholars Worldwide consider the amendments to Hungary’s law on higher education part of a power play by Prime Minister Viktor Orban against liberal values. The new law is a flagrant and unjust violation of the freedom, autonomy, security, and safety of a prominent European university and more than 2,200 faculty members and students.
The pressing problem is that the ban on admitting new students for 2018 and the drawn-out uncertainty around CEU is effectively a death sentence for any university seeking to attract new students and keep talented researchers and professors.
Endangered Scholars Worldwide deplores and condemns the legislation passed by the Hungarian National Assembly today regarding the operation of nonEU universities in Hungary. We call upon all European governments, international organizations, university presidents, the US Department of State, academic and professional associations, and student groups and individuals devoted to the promotion and defense of human rights to protest this injudicious proposition, to call for immediate withdrawal of the law, and to urge President Áder to refuse to sign the bill and send it instead for court review.
ESW urges the officials of the Hungarian government to respect, guarantee, and implement the provisions and principles of autonomy of higher education as specified in international conventions and treaties to which Hungary has long been a signatory.
Please send appeals to the following:
Viktor Orbán
Prime Minister
1357 Budapest, Pf. 6.
Hungary
E-mail: miniszterelnok@me.gov.hu
Zoltán KOVÁCS
International Spokesperson
Tel: +36 1 896 1905
Fax: +36 1 795 0410
Email: intcomm@mk.gov.hu
István Mikola
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
1027 Budapest, Bem rakpart 47.
Hungary
Phone: +36 1 458 1000
Fax: +36 1 212 5918
Rex W. Tillerson
United States Secretary of State
Office of Foreign Missions
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520 USA
Email: OFMInfo@state.gov
Nikki Haley
U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations
U.S. Permanent Mission to the United Nations
799 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017 USA
John Bass
Ambassador of the United States to the Republic of Turkey
Embassy of the United States
110 Atatürk Blvd. Kavaklıdere, 06100
Ankara, Turkey
Fax: +90 312 467 0019
Kishore Singh
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Email: sreducation@ohchr.org
David Kaye
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and
protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Fax: +41 22 917 9006
Email: freedex@ohchr.org
Federica Mogherini
High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security
Policy
European Commission
Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat 200
1049 Brussels
Belgium
Thorbjørn Jagland
Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
Avenue de l'Europe
F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex
France
Fax: + 33 3 88 41 27 99
Philippe Boillat
Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law
Council of Europe
Avenue de l'Europe
F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex
France
Fax: + 33 3 88 41 27 99