CEU says forced move from Hungary can be stopped

A change of direction from the Hungarian government, which is under intense pressure from its centrist political peers, could prevent the Central European University having to move its activities out of Budapest, the university has said.

In a statement published on 11 March, CEU’s rector Michael Ignatieff reiterated that as things stand the university will be forced to move all of its United-States-accredited degree operations from Budapest to Vienna for courses starting in September 2019. The Hungarian government has refused to recognise that the CEU complies with laws governing foreign courses.

But the university added: “Even at this late date, however, a solution remains possible. If the government wants CEU to remain in Budapest, then the prime minister should state that CEU’s licence to operate will not be withdrawn.”