• UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
NewsExplored
  • UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

Education

Hungary broke EU law by forcing out university, says European Court

Hungary broke EU law by forcing out university, says European Court
Newsexplored
6th October 2020
6
SHARES
ShareTweet
SubscribeRedditGoogleWhatsappStumbleuponPinterestDiggLinkedinTumblrTelegram
Views:
0

By Nick Thorpe
BBC News, Budapest

Published
1 day ago

image captionThe 2017 “Lex-CEU” spelt an end for most of the university’s activities in Budapest

Europe’s top court has ruled that Hungary broke EU law when education rules forced a university in Budapest to shift most activity abroad.

The 2017 law focused on foreign universities but singled out the Central European University (CEU) founded by George Soros.

The European Court of Justice said that conditions imposed by Viktor Orban’s government were incompatible with EU law.

Only a skeleton CEU staff remains.

The central Budapest campus is now largely empty, after the law forced the university to move more than 90% of its teaching to a brand new campus in Vienna at a cost of €200m (£180m).

What is CEU and why is it important?

The CEU was set up in 1991 in Budapest as a mainly graduate university by Mr Soros, the Hungarian-American philanthropist and investor.

It has a dual legal identity, registered in both New York State and Hungary. It currently has 1,243 students from 90 countries.

data-ad-format="auto">

image captionThe old Budapest headquarters of CEU is mostly deserted now

In 2019-20 it moved to Vienna after the Hungarian government made its continued functioning in Budapest impossible with its “Lex-CEU”.

Most of the university’s degree programmes are accredited in the US. The attack on CEU was widely interpreted as a battle between Hungary’s nationalist prime minister and the liberal-minded Mr Soros.


What was controversial about the Orban law?

The law was part of a reform of Higher Education by the Fidesz government led by Viktor Orban.

It targeted the dual legal identity of CEU.

image captionHungarian Minister of Justice Judit Varga argued that the court had used double standards on domestic and foreign universities

It demanded that foreign universities must have a “parent” university in their country of origin. Other elements of the ongoing reform are:

  • Privatisation of 13 state universities
  • These are placed in the hands of boards of governors, appointed by the government.
  • Research institutes formerly under the Academy of Sciences are now under the control of the Ministry of Innovation

How have the government and university reacted?

CEU Rector Michael Ignatieff welcomed the ruling as a moral and legal vindication.

“The ruling lifts the whole burden of Lex-CEU off our backs and restores our freedom,” he told the BBC. “It also strengthens academic freedom throughout Europe.”

Hungarian Minister of Justice Judit Varga said: “Hungary will implement the judgement… in line with the interests of Hungarians.” She added there was “no need for ‘mailbox universities'”.

Her response prompted Mr Ignatieff to say that her “comment does not make legal sense”.

What happens now?

The university has said it will stay in Vienna but it does still run two courses in Budapest and has one of the city’s best libraries. George Soros said the European Court ruling was a “victory for the fundamental values of the European Union” but one that came too late for CEU.

From September 2021, new US-accredited courses could start in Budapest, but no decision has yet been taken.

It is unclear what the Orban government will do. Earlier this year it signed an agreement with the Shanghai-based Fudan University to set up a new campus in Budapest.

More on this story

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Itemsbrokecourteuropeanforcinghungaryuniversity
Education
6th October 2020
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

Related Itemsbrokecourteuropeanforcinghungaryuniversity

More in Education

  • Read More
    Free school meals: Authors urge government action to stop child hunger

    Views:0 media captionMarcus Rashford and his mother Melanie helped out at FareShare Greater Manchester. More than 200...

    Newsexplored 6th October 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: Student anger over ‘junk’ food parcels in isolation

    Views:0 Image caption A student isolating in Nottingham was given bread, jam and an apple for breakfast...

    Newsexplored 6th October 2020
  • Read More
    Next year’s exams to start later in Northern Ireland

    Views:0 Image copyright Pacemaker Image caption Exams this year were cancelled due to the pandemic A-level, AS...

    Newsexplored 6th October 2020
  • Read More
    Let depressed teens postpone exams, say researchers

    Views:0 Image copyright Getty Images Teenagers who struggle with depression significantly underachieve at GCSE, according to new...

    Newsexplored 6th October 2020
  • Read More
    ‘Cities as friendly to strangers as towns and villages’

    Views:0 Image copyright Danny Lawson Image caption People in Nottingham were the most likely to step forward...

    Newsexplored 6th October 2020
  • Read More
    Minister rejects fee discounts for all students

    Views:0 Image copyright PA Video Image caption Students at Manchester Metropolitan University had to isolate England’s universities...

    Newsexplored 6th October 2020
  • Read More
    Coronavirus: 18% of secondaries send pupils home to isolate

    Views:0 Image copyright Getty Images Nearly a fifth of secondary schools in England sent at least some...

    Newsexplored 6th October 2020
  • Read More
    Youth jail plans therapy rather than steel doors

    Views:0 Image caption “Secure schools” will aim to stop young offenders becoming adult prisoners. A scene from...

    Newsexplored 6th October 2020
  • Read More
    Boris Johnson urged to intervene to ‘save outdoor education’

    Views:0 Image copyright PGL Boris Johnson is being urged to end a lockdown block on residential school...

    Newsexplored 6th October 2020
  • Read More
    He’s stuck in a room with Covid miles from home, says student’s dad

    Views:0 Image caption Sanjiv has ordered food deliveries online for his soon With Covid-19 cases hitting nearly...

    Newsexplored 6th October 2020
  • Read More
    Will next summer’s exams be cancelled?

    Views:0 Image copyright Getty Images Image caption There were protests over replacement grades this summer. But how...

    Newsexplored 6th October 2020
  • Read More
    Special educational needs and disabilities: The ‘forgotten’ children

    Views:0 By Phil ShepkaBBC News image copyrightContributed image captionThomas, 13, has not been in full-time education for...

    Newsexplored 6th October 2020
Scroll for more
Tap
data-ad-format="auto">
NewsExplored

NewsExplored - Making sure all the latest news is explored?

Contact us for help

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • Ervin Staub: A Holocaust survivor’s mission to train ‘heroic bystanders’
    USA5th October 2020
  • Storm Alex brings heavy rain and high winds to parts of UK
    UK2nd October 2020
  • Hull to Belgium ferry closure ‘end of an era’ for city
    UK1st October 2020
  • Transfer news: Winners and losers after deadline day
    Sports6th October 2020
  • Ethiopia River Nile dam: PM condemns ‘aggressions’ after Trump comment
    USA24th October 2020
  • US Election 2020: Biden seeks to clarify remark on ending oil
    USA24th October 2020
  • Presidential debate: Trump and Biden row over Covid, climate and racism
    USA23rd October 2020
  • Fact-check: Who caged children first?
    USA23rd October 2020
  • Les Rehrer says:

    Hello Its me :P and thanks for this post

  • optumrx login says:

    Thank For News.

  • Kent Laatsch says:

    Please let me know if you're looking for a writer…

  • Bob says:

    RT News was where I learned that Erdogan controlled isis.…

Copyright © 2018 Top News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress.

Minister rejects fee discounts for all students
‘Cities as friendly to strangers as towns and villages’
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok