Erasmus+, Horizont Europe programmes ‘not in danger’ in Hungary

Hungary’s participation in the Erasmus+ scheme and Horizont Europe research programme are “not in danger”, applications can continue to be submitted, the regional development minister said in Brussels on Wednesday, after talks with two EU commissioners on the matter.

Tibor Navracsics held talks with Mariya Gabriel, the Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture and Education, and Johannes Hahn, the Commissioner for Budget and Administration, with the aim “to seek a compromise”, the minister told MTI.

Students of universities run by asset management foundations after a government reform, which the EU has said to raise concerns of corruption, will not need to worry about participation in the programmes, he said. The Hungarian government is ready to address concerns raised by the European Commission over the 21 universities in question, the minister said. The EC has said that almost half of the universities have active politicians sitting on their boards, with unlimited terms. “Amending those rules is not a problem for the Hungarian government, the situation can be solved via enacting appropriate regulations,” Navracsics said, adding that “the EC at the same time must make clear that our cooperation would continue uninterrupted”. He said that the two relevant “not too complicated” law amendments could be adopted by Hungarian parliament in March.