ECREA and its Central and Eastern European Network are truly concerned about the proposed legislation endangering the existence of Central European University in Budapest https://www.ceu.edu/. Read the full protest letter below.

ECREA has addressed the following letter of protest to the Hungarian Prime Minister Orban and Minister of Human Resources Balog.
ECREA's CEE Network has published its statement of protest on Network's Facebook page.

Dear Prime Minister Orban,
Dear Minister Balog,

European Communication Research and Education Association ECREA is deeply agitated about the proposed legislative changes which may endanger the status and academic freedom of Central European University.

During the last 25 years of the CEU´s presence in the region it has immensely contributed to the study of media and communication in Central and Eastern Europe. CEU has made substantial difference in building bridges between East and West and brought about principal internationalisation of social sciences and humanities in the region of Central and Eastern Europe without undermining its specificities.

ECREA has a long tradition of endorsing equality for the disadvantaged groups of scholars in Europe with its Central and Eastern European Network being one of the conduits of this effort. We are deeply worried that stability and mission of the CEU as the institution pursuing the same goal may be threatened.

We express our solidarity with the CEU and join the protest of the academic and other public in Hungary and abroad. We respectfully urge the government to withdraw the proposed legislation and enter consultation with CEU. We urge the government to take the action and protect the teaching and research mission of the CEU.

Ilija Tomanič Trivundža (on behalf of the ECREA Executive Board)
ECREA President