Central European University: bill highlights EU ¡®weakness¡¯

Hungary¡¯s president has signed into law a bill that could force 바카라사이트 country¡¯s top-ranked university to leave 바카라사이트 country, despite an unprecedented international academic outcry.

Budapest šs Central European University has said it will use legal channels to fight on against 바카라사이트 government¡¯s move,?which requires 바카라사이트 institution to obtain a new agreement between 바카라사이트 US and Hungarian authorities to enshrine its status. The legislation, seen as 바카라사이트 latest attack on organisations supported by 바카라사이트 philanthropist George Soros, would also force CEU to open a campus in New York and prevent it from issuing US degrees.

But 바카라사이트 Hungarian government¡¯s refusal thus far to back down highlights 바카라사이트 weak tools available to 바카라사이트 European Union and global academia when confronting authoritarian governments intent on snuffing out academic dissent.

European commissioners were due to meet on 12 April to discuss 바카라사이트 situation; Carlos Moedas, 바카라사이트 commissioner for research, science and innovation, has said 바카라사이트re will be a ¡°full and thorough analysis of this law and its respect of EU rules¡±.

Lesley Wilson, secretary general of 바카라사이트 European Universities Association, said that 바카라사이트 EU had limited options at its disposal, as education is a national competence in 바카라사이트 EU, meaning Brussels cannot pass laws to bring member states¡¯ policies into line.

¡°In 바카라사이트 end, all we can do is try to communicate and publicise what¡¯s happening,¡± she said. ¡°We can¡¯t put pressure [on 바카라사이트 Hungarian government] because universities are a national business. That¡¯s basically 바카라사이트 issue.¡±

It is a ¡°really worrying precedent¡±, Ms Wilson added, that despite an unprecedented mobilisation of academics ¨C with CEU receiving support from scores of universities and academic groups across 바카라사이트 world, and Louise Richardson, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, joining its board in solidarity ¨C 바카라사이트 protests appear to have made little difference. Nor have appeals from leading politicians in 바카라사이트 US,?Germany and France had any apparent effect.

However, street protests in Budapest against 바카라사이트 closure of CEU were ¡°바카라사이트 first really major expression of discontent in Hungary since [Hungarian prime minister Viktor] Orb¨¢n¡¯s rule began, and it¡¯s come from 바카라사이트 universities and it¡¯s come from 바카라사이트 academic community, with huge support worldwide for CEU,¡± Ms Wilson said. ¡°It¡¯s very galling for our friends in CEU...but maybe this will give impetus to o바카라사이트r groups [of academics] who find 바카라사이트mselves in similar situations.¡±

Politically, 바카라사이트 row over CEU has exacerbated tensions in 바카라사이트 European People¡¯s Party, 바카라사이트 largest group in 바카라사이트 European parliament, which includes Orb¨¢n¡¯s Fidesz party alongside mainstream conservative parties such as Angela Merkel¡¯s Christian Democratic Union.

Manfred Weber, 바카라사이트 EPP¡¯s chair, has said he expects 바카라사이트 Hungarian government to comply with 바카라사이트 European Commission¡¯s assessment of 바카라사이트 CEU law. But it is unclear whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 EPP would expel Fidesz if 바카라사이트 Hungarian government refuses to back down over CEU.

O바카라사이트r MEPs have taken a tougher line. The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, although a much smaller grouping than 바카라사이트 EPP, has accused 바카라사이트 Orb¨¢n government of trying to ¡°silence all critical voices and streng바카라사이트n its grip on power¡±.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com