BUDAPEST, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Hungarian government does not see any amendments necessary to its controversial higher education act because of which the European Commission launched an infringement procedure against Hungary, Janos Lazar, head of the Hungarian Prime Minister's Office, said here Thursday.
"The European Commission did not bring up any argument that would necessitate the modification of the higher education act," Lazar told journalists at a press briefing.
He explained that the Commission had earlier launched an infringement procedure against Hungary over the amendments, requiring Hungary to respond to questions in the executive body's "letter of formal notice" by Thursday.
The Hungarian Parliament recently approved amendments to the higher education act that requires foreign colleges and universities in Hungary to operate on the basis of an inter-governmental agreement and to have a campus in the country.
The Central European University (CEU), which is accredited in the State of New York but has only one campus in Budapest, says that the amendments would make its continued operation in Budapest impossible.
In April and May, several demonstrations were held in Budapest, as a show of solidarity with the CEU.
"Some have been caught in a state of hysteria over the matter of the CEU, but a number of countries are prepared to negotiate with the government," Lazar added.
The government is also in contact with the United States federal government on the matter, Lazar said, speaking a day after receiving a formal letter from the governor of New York, who invited the Hungarian government to open negotiations.
"The Government of Hungary has stated publicly that it can only discuss the future of CEU in Hungary with relevant U.S. authorities, which in this case is the State of New York. The Governor welcomes the opportunity to resolve this matter and to initiate discussions with the Hungarian government without delay," the letter of governor of New York Andrew Cuomo stated.
CEU welcomed the statement by the New York governor.
"We have said since the beginning that the right solution is a new agreement between New York and Hungary. We hope an agreement can be reached," CEU president and Rector Michael Ignatieff said in a statement Wednesday.
The European Parliament's resolution of May 17 called on the Hungarian government to enter into negotiations with the U.S. authorities.
The U.S. State Department confirmed Wednesday that the U.S. federal government has no legal competence to negotiate on higher education, which lies within the authority of individual American states. Governor Cuomo's statement therefore opens the path for negotiations.
