Do any European countries have laws that restrict or disadvantage former students from enrolling in higher education again, based solely on prior enrollment?

iIn my country(Serbia), a recent law change has introduced a discriminatory element affecting people who seek to enroll n a new higher education program after previously studying at the same level.

Admission to higher education institutions is based on a combined score of up to 100 points, derived from an entrance examination and the applicant’s final grades from high school or gymnasium. Up until this year, candidates have been ranked solely based on these scores.

However, as of this year, a structural change has been implemented whereby candidates applying to higher education for the first time are prioritized over those who have previously enrolled in a program at the same academic level, regardless of whether they completed it. In practical terms, this means that an applicant with a lower entrance score who is enrolling for the first time may be ranked above a candidate with a significantly higher score who is seeking to change or restart their academic path. This policy is not limited to a single institution but applies across the entire higher education system in Serbia.

Are there any European countries with similar laws that disadvantage former students solely based on their previous enrollment status, regardless of merit or performance?

TLDR: Serbia recently implemented a nationwide rule giving admission priority to first-time university applicants, regardless of entrance exam scores. As a result people wanting to change their degrees or switch to another program or even switch universities are ranked lower than someone who is applying for the first time.