About: Central European University (CEU)
Hungary breached obligations to uphold academic freedom, EU top court ruled
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) struck down on Tuesday (6 October) the Hungarian education law that had pushed the university funded by American billionaire George Soros to move out of Budapest. The court said this ran contrary to the principle of academic freedom as well as the freedom to conduct business and provide services.
Michael Ignatieff: Hungary will not be a single-party state forever
The democratic transition is not over in Central and Eastern Europe and we will continue our mission of training people and creating "free minds, people who think", Michael Ignatieff, a Canadian academic and president of the Central European University, told EURACTIV Slovakia.
CEU provost: Academic freedom is in crisis everywhere in Europe, not only in Hungary
It is the start of a new semester at the Central European University (CEU) in Budapest. But this year, many of its students are preparing to move to Vienna, where lectures will start in October. It's because CEU, a private US university founded by the Hungarian billionaire George Soros, has been kicked out of Hungary.
France and Germany pile pressure on Poland and Hungary over rule of law
As EU affairs ministers in Luxembourg on Wednesday (9 April) again discussed the rule of law in Poland and Hungary, a joint Franco-German statement proposed a new hearing after the European elections in June.
Orbán apologises to EPP leaders he called ‘useful idiots’
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has apologised to European conservative parties for calling them "useful idiots" over an anti-EU billboard campaign that could see his party ejected from the European Parliament's dominant centre-right EPP bloc.
Soros-funded university says it is being forced out of Hungary
Hungary's Central European University, founded by George Soros, said on Monday (3 December) it has been forced out of the country in "an arbitrary eviction" that violated academic freedom, and confirmed plans to enrol new students in neighbouring Austria next year.
Hungarian opposition denounces Gruevski’s case ‘disgrace’
The leaders of three opposition parties represented in the Hungarian parliament published on Sunday (2 December) an open letter in which they call a “disgrace” the granting by Viktor Orbán of asylum to former Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.
Hungary persists in row with Soros-founded university
Just days from a deadline to settle a legal dispute with a university founded by US billionaire George Soros, Hungary's foreign minister indicated Wednesday (28 November) his government will not back down.
Soros university says it being forced out of Hungary, mulls move to Vienna
Hungary's Central European University, a graduate school founded by US financier George Soros, said it was being forced out of the country by the nationalist government and would switch to enrolling new students in Vienna.
A silver lining in ‘illiberal’ Hungary
The looming decision on whether to close the prestigious Central European University (CEU), a symbol of the resistance in Hungary, is bringing together the opposition to forge an innovative plan to end the ‘Orbánian’ state, EURACTIV.com reports from Budapest.
EU steps up action against Hungary over ‘anti-Soros’ NGO law
The EU yesterday (4 October) intensified its legal action against Hungary over a crackdown on education and foreign-backed civil society groups that critics say targets US billionaire George Soros.
Meeting of minds as Netanyahu visits Orbán
Hungary welcomes Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu today (18 July) on a landmark visit that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán hopes will bolster him in his battle with George Soros and deflect charges of stoking anti-Semitism.
European Commission steps up infringement procedures against Hungary
The Commission opened an infringement procedure against Hungary on Thursday (13 July) for its new law on foreign-funded NGOs, and went a step further in another infringement it had launched in April over the Higher Education Law, that seeks to close the Central European University (CEU), founded by George Soros.
Hungary’s law calls for more transparency for NGOs receiving foreign money
In a recent EURACTIV.com interview, the director of the George Soros-funded European Policy Institute makes the incorrect claim that Hungary’s new legislation on NGO transparency is “discriminatory” and is closing the space for dissenting opinions, writes Zoltán Kovács.
Soros: Britain could reunite with the EU before the divorce is completed
Investor and philanthropist George Soros said today (1 June) that the EU should use Brexit as a “catalyst for introducing far reaching reforms”, transforming itself into an organisation that Britain would like to rejoin before the divorce is completed.
US reject talks with Hungary over higher education law
The United States has no intention of negotiating with Hungary about its new higher education law, which could force a top university founded by US financier George Soros out of the country, the US State Department said yesterday (23 May).
Hungarians protest government crackdown on universities, NGOs
Thousands of protesters marched through Budapest on Sunday in a demonstration against tough laws targeting foreign-backed NGOs and higher education institutions, amid rising tensions between Budapest and Brussels.
Jarábik: Orbán knows EU can’t lose Hungary
It is hard to believe that a private university may lead to the expulsion of a member state. If the European Commission is going to support the opposition against Orbán, it is not going to help regain its credibility among member states, Balász Jarábik told EURACTIV Czech Republic.
Orban pledges to comply with EU law
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban promised to respect EU law after EPP leadership told him today (29 April) that his attempts to close the Central European University and his campaign against Brussels were "unacceptable".
Orbán: Hungary has no big issue with EU, it has a problem with Soros
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said he was committed to the EU and accused US billionaire George Soros of "attacking" his country yesterday (26 April) as he defended a law that could close down a university founded by the philanthropist.
Hungarian university president: ‘I need the support of Europe’
The head of a Budapest university pressured by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán appealed to Brussels for help yesterday (25 April), a day before the European Commission will announce infringement procedures against Hungary, and when Orbán will address MEPs.
Petition launched to eject Orbán’s Fidesz from EPP
Change.org, a global platform for launching petitions, has initiated a call to the European Peoples’ Party to kick out Fidesz, the political force of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, from the EU’s largest political family which has sheltered him so far despite his authoritarian drift.
Soros gets warm Brussels reception amid spat with Hungary
Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and several Commissioners will meet US financier George Soros next Thursday (27 April) as part of consultations on a new Hungarian law that could close a university he funds, and of legislation targeting foreign-funded NGOs.