Protests in Hungary over proposal on higher education institutions

Thousands of people protested in Hungary's capital Budapest on 9 April 2017 against a legislative proposal on higher education institutions receiving funding from abroad put forward by the government.

This draft law, approved by parliament on 4 April, prevent institutions based outside the EU from awarding Hungarian diplomas without an agreement between national government. This was seen as specifically targetting the Central European University (CEU), registered in the United States and funded by George Soros.

The demonstration was reportedly the biggest since 2014.

The President of the European Commission stated the issue was scheduled to be debated by the College of Commissioners on 12 April 2017.

• Primary Source

BBC News, 10.04.17: Large protest in support of Hungary's Soros-backed university http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39549120

The Guardian, 09.04.17: Thousands protest in Hungary over threat to Soros university https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/09/thousands-protest-in-hungary-over-bill-threat-to-soros-university

EUObserver, 10.04.17: Thousands protest Hungary university bill https://euobserver.com/education/137551

Deutsche Welle, 09.04.17: Massive rally in Budapest in support of Soros-funded university http://p.dw.com/p/2axV2

Balkan Insight, 10.04.17: Romanian Offer to Host Soros University Meets Scepticism http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/romanian-offer-to-host-soros-university-meets-scepticism-04-07-2017

The New York Times, 07.04.17: [Editorial] Hungary’s Assault on Freedom https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/07/opinion/hungarys-assault-on-freedom.html

RT, 08.04.17: George Soros and Viktor Orbán go to war in Budapest https://on.rt.com/88bq

Hungary Today, 07.04.17: Amid Continuing International Outcry over Lex CEU, Hungarian Government Spokesman Claims German Gov’t Has Been 'Deceived' by Soros 'Lies' http://hungarytoday.hu/news/amid-continuing-international-outcry-lex-ceu-hungarian-government-spokesman-claims-german-govt-deceived-soros-lies-38366

Portfolio.hu, 07.04.17: CEU answers key questions related to legislative changes in Hungary http://www.portfolio.hu/en/economy/ceu_answers_key_questions_related_to_legislative_changes_in_hungary.32785.html

EurActiv, 07.04.17: EPP warns Budapest with Article 7 ‘nuclear option’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/epp-warns-budapest-with-article-7-nuclear-option/

Social Europe, 10.04.17: Hungary’s Central European University Under Threat https://www.socialeurope.eu/2017/04/hungarys-central-european-university-threat/

Freedom House: Press Release, 30.03.17: Hungary: Government Threatens University with Closure https://freedomhouse.org/article/hungary-government-threatens-university-closure

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 10.04.17: Losing the Central European University would be a tragedy for Hungarian public life http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2017/04/10/central-european-university-closure-orban/

Hungary: Government: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: News, 10.04.17: The Hungarian Government will provide everyone with the information they require http://www.kormany.hu/en/ministry-of-foreign-affairs-and-trade/news/the-hungarian-government-will-provide-everyone-with-the-information-they-require

The Conversation, 10.04.17: Hungary’s assault on academic freedom is a threat to European principles http://theconversation.com/hungarys-assault-on-academic-freedom-is-a-threat-to-european-principles-76042

EurActiv, 10.04.17: Jourová: EU action unlikely to change Hungarian university law http://www.euractiv.com/section/freedom-of-thought/news/jourova-says-eu-legal-action-unlikely-to-change-law-targeting-university/

EurActiv, 11.04.17: Hungarian president signs law threatening Soros university http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/hungarian-president-signs-law-threatening-soros-university/

Euro|Topics: Debates, April 2017: Will the CEU protests bring about Orbán's fall? / Will the CEU seal Orbán's fate? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/176978/will-the-ceu-seal-orban-s-fate

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 11.04.17: The European Union has an obligation to protect civil society in Hungary http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2017/04/11/the-european-union-has-an-obligation-to-protect-civil-society-in-hungary/

EurActiv, 11.04.17: Hungarian education minister: University law protestors were ‘misled’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/freedom-of-thought/news/hungarian-education-minister-says-thousands-of-protestors-against-university-law-were-misled/

Blog: Verfassungsblog, 05.04.17: The Return of the Sovereign: A Look at the Rule of Law in Hungary – and in Europe http://verfassungsblog.de/the-return-of-the-sovereign-a-look-at-the-rule-of-law-in-hungary-and-in-europe/

EUObserver, 13.04.17: [Opinion]: Central Europe's decline into authoritarianism https://euobserver.com/opinion/137580

EUObserver, 12.04.17: [Opinion]: Viktor Orban’s unpatriotic attack on CEU https://euobserver.com/opinion/137576

EurActiv, 13.04.17: Anti-government demo forms giant heart in Budapest http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/anti-government-demo-forms-giant-heart-in-budapest/

EUObserver, 18.04.17: Hungary's university protests, a path for change? https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/137600

EurActiv, 26.04.17: Hungarian university president: ‘I need the support of Europe’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/hungarian-university-president-i-need-the-support-of-europe/

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