May 17, 2017
Budapest, May 17, 2017 – Central European University (CEU) welcomes the resolution passed by a majority in the European Parliament calling for repeal of Lex CEU. An amendment further calls on the government “to immediately suspend all deadlines in the act amending the National Higher Education Act, to start immediate dialogue with the relevant US authorities in order to guarantee the future operations of the CEU issuing US-accredited degrees and to make a public commitment that the university can remain in Budapest as a free institution.”
May 5, 2017
Budapest, May 5, 2017 – Central European University (CEU) strongly refutes the false allegations published today in an article of a speculative and deceptive nature in Magyar Idok regarding the legality of university employment contracts, tax payments, and research funding. This is another scurrilous attack against a university that is proud to have complied with the Hungarian law for over 20 years and contributed significant amounts in taxes to the Hungarian state. This is extremely low-level journalism, with no factual basis. In reality, the facts are as follows:
May 4, 2017
Budapest, May 3, 2017 – While the Hungarian government claims publicly that it does not want to shut down any university, its own lex CEU refutes this claim. CEU wishes to point out that if the legislation is not withdrawn or amended, the Education Authority will withdraw CEU’s license to operate. This can take place as early as October 12, 2017. After January 1, 2018 CEU cannot accept new students, thus making it impossible to recruit for the 2018/19 academic year.
April 29, 2017
Budapest, April 29 – Central European University (CEU) welcomes the European People’s Party (EPP) call for the Hungarian authorities “to take all necessary steps” to comply with the European Commission’s finding that lex CEU violates European law. CEU also notes the announcement that “Prime Minister [Viktor] Orban has reassured the EPP that Hungary will act accordingly.”
April 27, 2017
Budapest, April 27 – Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office Janos Lazar claimed at today's government press conference that the infringement proceedings only concern the provision of services, and not academic freedom. This is false.
April 26, 2017
Budapest, April 26 – The Prime Minister claimed, referring to a letter written by President and Rector Michael Ignatieff to the students and faculty of CEU, that Ignatieff is not worried that CEU, operating in Budapest, may be closed down. This is false. Ignatieff assured the CEU community in that letter that the university will continue operating under any circumstances. This does not mean, however, that the survival of the university in Hungary is not under threat. Unfortunately, the opposite is the case, due to the actions of the Hungarian government.
April 26, 2017
Budapest, April 26 – Central European University (CEU) takes note of the European Commission decision to start infringement proceedings against Hungary regarding the recent amendments to Hungary’s higher education legislation. This confirms CEU’s conviction that this legislation is discriminatory and runs counter to European values.
April 20, 2017
Budapest, April 20 – From the beginning of this episode, CEU has called on the Hungarian government to sit down and begin confidential negotiations for a mutually acceptable solution to enable it to continue operations in Hungary. Instead, CEU has been subjected to a barrage of incoherent statements and false allegations. It is time for the government to stop playing these games, figure out its negotiating positions, and begin talks with the university.
April 12, 2017
Budapest, April 12, 2017 -- Central European University (CEU) welcomes the U.S. government’s expression of full support for CEU’s fight for academic freedom and its right to remain in Budapest, most recently in remarks by State Department spokesperson Mark C. Toner. Secondly, and just as significantly, the European Commission has announced its decision to swiftly complete a thorough legal assessment of Hungary’s Higher Education law and decide on further steps in the next infringement cycle. This is a remarkable step by the European Commission.
April 6, 2017
Budapest, April 6 -- Central European University (CEU) is determined to stay in Budapest, its home for more than two decades, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Leon Botstein said. Any reports about other plans are false. CEU also reiterates that it intends to resort to all legal remedies available in order to remain in Budapest, where it has operated lawfully for 25 years.
