Greece private universities face new legal challenges after court rulings

The legal status of private universities in Greece is facing significant scrutiny following recent rulings by the Council of State. The court recently annulled the operating licenses and curriculum certifications of three foreign university branches: CITY College (University of York), Keele University, and Anatolia College. The court found that the criteria used by the National Authority for Higher Education (HESA) did not meet legal requirements.

Following these decisions, Professor Panagiotis Lazaratos has filed new legal challenges seeking the annulment of licenses granted to seven additional private institutions earlier this year. The core argument is that these new licenses were issued under a regulatory framework that the Council of State has since deemed invalid. Specifically, the challenges question whether the curricula submitted for licensing can remain valid once new certification criteria are established.

The Ministry of Education is currently working to find a legal solution to ensure that students already enrolled in affected institutions do not lose their academic year. While the government maintains that the institution of non-state universities remains constitutional, the political opposition, including PASOK, has criticized the administration for a lack of transparency and accountability regarding the licensing process.