Michael Ignatieff, rector of CEU, sent (13 April 2017) this update on the current situation of CEU:
„Earlier this week, President of the Republic of Hungary Janos Ader signed into law amendments to Hungary’s National Higher Education Act. The legislation, which CEU strongly opposes, targets a free institution that is a proud part of Hungarian life and the international higher education community. As we have said before, academic freedom is not negotiable, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to this principle.
As we seek all available legal remedies so that we may remain in Budapest, CEU continues to have the full support of the U.S. government, most recently reiterated by the US State Department calling on Hungary to suspend the law. The European Commission said it will conduct a thorough legal assessment and consider infringement proceedings; and the European Parliament will debate the situation in Hungary on April 26th.
With respect to negotiations here in Hungary, we are open to any lawful and long-term solution that would ensure academic freedom and institutional integrity. In response to media reports of a proposal by State Secretary for Education Laszlo Palkovics, we have reiterated our longstanding position that we look to the Hungarian government to initiate negotiations with CEU so we can resolve this and go back to work, with our academic freedom secured, without limits on duration.
Many of you who sent letters in support of CEU received a response from the Hungarian Ministry of Human Capacities. For your reference, we have prepared a document refuting the points made in their letter, and have published a summary of the legislative changes affecting CEU and other resources at #IstandwithCEU.
CEU remains fully committed to continuing the academic work of our students and faculty and the operations of the University more generally. Budapest is our home and our objective is to maintain our base here. With patience and determination, through dialogue with the government, through our partnerships around the world, and through the support we have received, throughout, from all of you, we will achieve this goal.“
