MEPs round on Viktor Orbán in the parliament

The European Commission has begun legal action against Hungary over a new education law which is widely seen as an effort to force the closure of the Central European University (CEU).

The Commission, already exasperated at Orbán’s right-wing government for its crackdown on non-governmental organisations and its harsh attitude towards migrants, has sent a letter of formal notice to Budapest. This is “a first step towards an infringement procedure,” to which the Hungarian authorities have one month to respond.

The higher education law violates EU democratic values and laws, deputy Commission head Frans Timmermans told MEPs in Brussels. “[It] is perceived by many as an attempt to close down the Central European University, which I think is a pearl in the crown of post-divided, free and whole Europe,” Timmermans said. “Analysis of the law confirmed our concerns with regard to its compatibility with internal market freedoms and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.”

Sitting opposite Timmermans in the Parliament, Orbán vigorously defended the legislation, which has prompted 70,000 people to take to the streets of Budapest in protest, and has been condemned around the world.

“This charge is baseless,” said Orbán. “The situation is absurd.” The law merely introduces new rules for foreign-registered universities that will put them on an equal legal footing to Hungarian counterparts, he said.

“[It] affects 28 foreign universities operating in Hungary, and does nothing but unifies the rules that apply to them, closes the possibility of speculations and abuses, demands transparency, and eliminates the privileged position these institutions enjoyed over European universities,” Orbán told MEPs.

Orbán then articulated his views on the founder of the CEU, Hungarian-American financier and philanthropist, George Soros.

Soros is responsible for “ruining the lives of millions of people” and “wants to let in one million migrants into the EU every year,” Orbán said.

CEU rector Michael Ignatieff believes the university is hostage to Orbán’s quarrel with Soros, and says CEU has not received any clarity on how the new law puts all universities on the same footing.

“For weeks now, we have been asking the government to name the specific privileges possessed in the past by CEU and the rights given now to all Hungarian universities. Unfortunately, the prime minister failed to answer these questions again,” CEU said in a statement.

Earlier this week Ignatieff told the European Parliament that Orbán’s new law, due to come into effect on October 11, singles out CEU. In order to comply, CEU will have to open a campus in the US and become subject to a new international treaty between the US and the Hungarian government – even though the US federal government has no jurisdiction over higher education.

For the majority of MEPs in the room, some of whom wore badges declaring “#IstandwithCEU”, the new law is the latest evidence of that Hungary is sinking deeper under authoritarian rule.

Liberal MEP Guy Verhofstadt said when he first met Orbán in 1989, he thought him a moderate. Since then things have changed, Verhofstadt said. “You changed. You dumped your democratic principles. You have harassed NGOs, chased away the media and attempted to bring back the death penalty. How far will you go? What’s the next thing? Burning books? You see enemies everywhere – In the energy sector, in the academic world. You have violated every one of the EU principles.”

Philippe Lamberts, leader of the green group in the Parliament, said, “I no longer recognise the defender of democracy, born in the same year as me. If my party enjoyed a two-thirds majority, won over three elections, as yours did, I would not be afraid of a free press or a vibrant civil society.”

More on this topic

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EU launches probe into Hungary’s controversial education bill

 EU must not tolerate the threat to academic freedom in Hungary

 Global pushback against Orban’s university bill is rebuffed

 Hungary’s new education law targets US-backed Central European University

 A brief history of CEU