Several Hungarian universities will lose Erasmus, Horizon support next year

Válasz Online, a Hungarian news outlet, learned that the students of 21 Hungarian, foundation-run universities will probably not be able to partake in the Erasmus system from next year. Furthermore, their teachers will lose Horizon program allocations. The reason is the ongoing and harmful debate between the European Commission and the Hungarian government concerning corruption and the rule of law.

According to Válasz Online, the Hungarian government has time until 1 September to modify several laws concerning the operation of foundation-run universities. However, the Hungarian parliament will not hold a session until September, and the European Commission needs some time to analyse and accept the new regulation. Afterwards, they have the opportunity to recommend the European Council to open the money taps of the two programs concerned.

It seems the Orbán administration is running out of time and will not be able to seize the Erasmus and Horizon allocations, which will result in the stoppage of these programs at 21 Hungarian universities from this September. The institutions of higher education include even Budapest’s famous Corvinus University. However, the cabinet thinks they did everything they could, and the European Commission does not want to negotiate and reach an agreement.

According to Tibor Navracsics, the minister for regional development, they sent a draft to the European Commission a month ago. But they have not received any answer yet. That is why they do not want to agree with Budapest, Navracsics added. However, the spokesman of the European Commission highlighted at a press conference this week that they told the Hungarian government what changes they need and they will only analyse already accepted laws, not drafts. Up until now, they analysed bills.

The Hungarian government learned that the new, foundation-run universities were problematic for the European Commission last September. But nothing happened until this January when information about freezing Erasmus and Horizon funds exploded in the Hungarian media. The government promised then to solve the problem. Ministers resigned from the university boards, but the EC remained unsatisfied, and talks between the cabinet and the commission halted.

University of Debrecen:

In the case of the 21 foundation-run Hungarian universities, the European Council would have to decide by 1 September. That is very unlikely even if the Hungarian government and the parliament accept every required modification. Of course, the necessary EU budget update (and extension, to help Ukraine) needs unanimous approval. Thus, the Hungarian government may include the Erasmus and Horizon programs in that agreement package, and the programs may continue as if nothing happened.

Here is a list of the Hungarian universities concerned:

• Budapest University of Economics
• University of Dunaújváros
• University of Debrecen
• Corvinus University of Budapest
• Hungarian University of Agricultural and Life Sciences
• Hungarian Dance Academy University of Veterinary Science
• Moholy-Nagy University of Arts
• Semmelweis University
• János Neumann University University of Nyíregyháza
• Pannon University
• Óbuda University
• University of Sopron
• István Széchenyi University
• University of Szeged
• University of Theater and Film Arts
• Hungarian University of Physical Education and Sports Sciences
• Tokaj-Hegyalja University
• University of Miskolc
• University of Pécs