We are deeply concerned about the legislative changes to the Hungarian national higher education act that were adopted on April, 4th and that will strongly affect the work, if not the existence of the Central European University (CEU) in Budapest.

We would like to express our solidarity with colleagues and students at the CEU. In the field of European higher education, CEU has a high reputation, not only because of its excellence in academia, but also because it contributes significantly to upholding the Humboldtian model of education in the 21st century: An encompassing notion conceiving of the university as a place of academic freedom contributing to the development of the individual; that emphasizes the role of higher education as a vital contribution to a democratic, open-minded and tolerant society. In times where Europe and the world are facing a series of major challenges, education represents a pivotal pillar of a democracy, enabling progress and peace.
 
We strongly hope that the CEU will be able to continue its remarkable work from within the heart of Europe. 

Matthias Waechter, Director General CIFE 

CIFE is a private institute of higher education and research, founded in 1954 with its head office in Nice and branch offices in Berlin, Brussels, Istanbul and Tunis. It receives special funding in the framework of the Jean Monnet programme of the European Union. Every year, students from all continents and a great variety of countries enroll in its graduate programmes which focus on European studies, international relations and energy transition.