Thursday night in Greece saw heated clashes between police and protestors, who were demonstrating against Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ controversial bill proposing to grant licenses to foreign universities to operate within the country. These protestors were equipped with wooden poles adorned with red flags, and several videos depict the police resorting to the use of tear gas after a number of their officers were reportedly attacked.
The bill in question, should it be passed, would permit foreign universities to establish branches in Greece either through new investments or private colleges. These institutions, however, would be required to meet standards set by the state. This legislation was introduced by Prime Minister Mitsotakis in December 2023, who hailed it as a significant step towards “the substantial abolition of the state monopoly in higher education”, and expressed hope for the introduction of non-state funded universities in the country.
While discussing these propositions with Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the President of Greece, Mitsotakis assured that these shifts in higher education would not result in an end to funding for public universities. He added that the standards for foreign, non-state universities would be kept incredibly high to maintain the quality of education. The Prime Minister also posited his belief that the majority of Greek citizens would support the bill, citing benefits such as the option for Greek students who typically travel abroad for their education to remain in their home country, and positive implications for the economy.
However, these developments would significantly alter Greece’s long-standing approach to education as per Article 16 of the Greek Constitution, which expressly forbids the establishment of private universities and mandates that education is strictly free and a state duty.
The proposed bill faces robust debates later this month, amid concerns that it could potentially defund and devalue the public institutions that many Greeks have relied on and supported for access to higher education.