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EU gives Hungary a month to revise education law or face court
Hungarian government poster portraying financier George Soros and saying "Don't let George Soros have the last laugh" is seen at an underground stop in Budapest, Hungary, July 11, 2017. PHOTO BY REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh
By Alissa de Carbonnel
13/07/2017
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union issued a one-month ultimatum to Hungary on Thursday to address its concerns over an education law it says runs counter to the bloc's values or face possible sanctions in court.
European Commission deputy head Frans Timmermans called for the Hungarian government to respond within a month to Brussels' criticism that the Higher Education Law could shut down a Budapest university founded by U.S. financier George Soros.
The EU executive has long been exasperated by what it sees as Prime Minister Viktor Orban's authoritarian tendencies.
"We expect a reaction from the Hungarian authorities within a month," Timmermans said in a statement. "If the response is not satisfactory, the Commission can decide to go to the Court."
In a "reasoned opinion" issued on Thursday, the second step in legal action against a member state for breaching EU rules, the Commission said the law "runs counter to the right of academic freedom, the right to education and the freedom to conduct a business".
The Commission also sent a letter to Hungary saying a new law governing foreign-funded non-government organizations did not comply with EU legislation, the first step toward legal action by the 28-country EU.
While Brussels can open cases against EU states violating common rules, they are lengthy and often have little impact. That means the EU executive has limited leverage over Orban, who has been in office since 2010.
Orban has often bashed the EU and repeatedly clashed with non-governmental organizations sponsored by Soros, who promotes a liberal and internationalist world view that the nationalist-minded Hungarian leader dislikes.
A recent anti-migrant billboard campaign by Orban's government that features an image of Soros, a Hungarian-born Jew, has been criticized by Jewish groups and others for fomenting anti-Semitism.
The threat of legal action comes after months of dialogue between the Commission and Hungary over grievances that go beyond the higher education law.
Orban's "illiberal" brand of democracy has already earned him a tongue-in-cheek greeting of "Hello Dictator!" from the head of the executive, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
(Reporting by Alissa de Carbonnel; Editing by Philip Blenkinsop and Catherine Evans)
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