We are baffled by the amendments to the higher education law rushed through the Hungarian Parliament today.

The revised law poses a direct threat to the continued existence of the renowned Central European University (CEU) founded 26 years ago. Young people from 117 countries, including 44 young Germans, are studying at the internationally-oriented CEU. Many professors from Germany work there. Extensive funding from the European Union and the many successful graduates show that this university is an extremely important pillar in Budapest’s academic landscape. It helps train highly qualified young people with an international outlook from many different countries.

It is therefore all the more difficult for us to understand why the work of the CEU, and thus academic freedom in Hungary, is to be restricted under this new legislation.