Greek plan to borrow money from public institutions and reverse reforms causes dissent

Nature : Tensions in Greece are rising over two recent measures proposed by its government: to borrow cash from public-sector institutions and reform the governance of its university system. On 24 April Greece’s parliament voted to require public research organizations and universities to transfer their cash reserves to the Bank of Greece so that the government can use the funds to satisfy its international debts. The other bone of contention involves the proposed reversal of legislation enacted four years ago to depoliticize Greece’s university system. University officials have taken issue with both proposals, claiming that the transfer of their reserves will put them in a difficult financial situation and that the reversal of the legislation enacted in 2011–12 will politicize the country’s universities and isolate them from other countries’ university systems.