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    Endangered Scholars Worldwide Statement on Hungary’s Parliament Votes to Shut Down Central European University

    April 4, 2017

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    Endangered Scholars Worldwide

     

    On Tuesday, April 4, 2017, Hungarian Parliament voted in favor of Hungarian 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, Minister of Human Resources, submitted a bill to the Hungarian Parliament based on claims of “irregularities” found in the operation of foreign-based universities. And 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 1st, 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 Hungarian government by September 2017. In addition, the legislation which passed today will force CEU to open a campus in New York State (where it is also accredited) and change its name; it would also eliminate a waiver that allows academic staff from non-EU 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 for review or request 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 2200 faculties, students, and academic staff.

     

    The pressing problem is that the ban on admitting new students as of 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 strongly deplore and condemn today’s legislation by the Hungarian National Assembly regarding the operation of non-EU universities in Hungary.

     

    We call upon all European governments, international organizations, university presidents, the U.S. Department of State, academic and professional associations, student groups and individuals devoted to the promotion and defense of human rights to strongly protest and condemn this injudicious proposition, to call for immediate withdrawal of the law, and to urge President Áder to refuse to sign the bill and to send it instead for review to the courts.

     

    ESW urge 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:

     

    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

     

     

     

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