Daniel Zeichner, Cambridge MP and Alex Mayer, the local East of England MEP, have joined the campaign against a piece of Hungarian legislation which critics say is attempting to shut down Central European University (CEU).

Viktor Orbán, Hungarian Prime Minister, and the Hungarian Parliament approved new amendments to higher education laws on Tuesday, with an overwhelming support of 123 to 38 in a vote in favour of the legislation.

The law has been criticised for targeting the CEU, which has claimed that the bill, by requiring it to open a campus in New York in order to continue awarding degrees in Hungary, would make its existence unviable.

The Hungarian government has denied that the legislation is an attack on CEU, telling Politico that “The sole aim of the amendment to the Act on Higher Education is for foreign universities in Hungary to operate lawfully and transparently by complying with Hungarian regulations”. It added: “Any other interpretations are symptoms of political hysteria.”

Zeichner said, “CEU stands for academic freedom and liberty of expression. The proposed legislation would make it virtually impossible for CEU - a centre of academic excellence in the region - to operate in Budapest, threatening liberal values of democracy which are being built in a country which long suffered from tyranny.”

Mayer echoed Zeichner’s concerns, saying: “I am deeply concerned by the Hungarian government’s attack on academic freedom. They have listed a number of European universities that they say are acting unlawfully in their country including Anglia Ruskin, while their proposed amendment to the National Higher Education Act would make it impossible for CEU to continue to operate.”

Cambridge University European societies defend academic freedom in face of Hungary bill

Mayer has also formally written to the European Commission asking for investigations around this situation.

Zeichner and Mayer’s comments follow a number of open condemnations of the Hungarian government’s attack on CEU from Cambridge. On Saturday, a number of Cambridge University societies representing European nationalities put out a statement which was closely followed by a letter of solidarity sent by past and present Regius Professors of History of the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford to Zoltan Balog, Minister of Human Capacities, expressing their concern about the proposed amendments.

An open letter opposing these government plans has also grown in support from more than 100 economists, including 14 Nobel Laureates.

Michael Ignatieff, CEU’s president and rector, has been open in his condemnation for the new amendments.

In an interview with VoxEurop he expressed surprise at the turn of events: “Most people assumed that [Orbán] would not risk an attack on an institution which has been part of the scene here for 25 years and poses no strategic challenge to his rule on the political scene.”

He castigated the government for the legislation, saying: “My message to Mr. Orbán is: anybody who actually loves Hungary and respects its intellectual and cultural traditions, who understands what the academics and intellectuals of this country have contributed to Europe, would respect the academic freedom of its institutions and not seek to destroy them for the desire of total domination. That desire will damage the country he thinks he is defending.”

He also sought to dispel any doubts about the future of CEU, insisting: “We will defend the academic independence of this institution, come what may. This institution will never close, this institution will never bow down to threats.”

Zeichner and Mayer speak out at a time when Cambridge celebrates three decades of being twinned with the city of Szeged in southern Hungary. The city’s mayor, László, is well-known for his vocal opinions against Orbán’s regime