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Greek private university license revocations and legal escal

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2026-08-20 08:56 UTC → 2026-08-20 10:24 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Council of State (StE) has revoked the operating licenses and all study programs for three private university branches in Greece: CITY College University of York, Keele University, and Anatolia College. The court cited administrative and procedural failures, including the failure of the EOPPEP to verify building facility inspections, conflicts of interest, and a lack of specific criteria for certain certifications. Law professor Panagiotis Lazaratos, who filed the initial appeal, noted that the decision could affect the “entire regulatory framework for non-state higher education institutions (NPPEs).” He warned that the annulment of ETHAAE decision 48136/2024 undermines the certification process, as seven other licensed institutions relied on the now-annulled regulatory criteria. In response, the PASOK party criticized the government, with representative Stefanos Parastatidis characterizing the situation as a regime lacking “accountability and transparency.” PASOK has demanded that the Ministry of Education provide a clear timeline for addressing legal consequences and protecting the academic year of affected students. The legal crisis is expanding as Lazaratos has filed a new petition with the Council of State seeking the annulment of operating licenses for seven additional private universities authorized this year. This challenge argues that because the regulatory framework used to evaluate these institutions has been declared invalid, their licenses must also be revoked. The targeted institutions include Georgetown Greece, Iowa State Scientific and Technological University in Thessaloniki, DEREE, European University Cyprus, the French University of Greece (Paris Nord), the University of Essex, and the University of Derby. As the legal scrutiny intensifies, the Ministry of Education is working to identify a legal solution to ensure that students currently enrolled in affected institutions do not lose their academic year.

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