The European Union has declined to?lift measures excluding most Hungarian universities from receiving Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe funding, stating that Hungary ¡°has?not sufficiently addressed breaches of?the principles of?the rule of?law¡±.

In December 2022, the EU blocked Hungary¡¯s public trust foundations and the 21?universities they fund from signing new EU?grant agreements, freezing them out of?funding streams including Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe.

The move followed Hungary¡¯s 2021 transfer of?the assets of 11?state universities to?board-led foundations, prompting fears that institutional autonomy would be compromised amid increased control by members of prime minister Viktor Orb¨¢n¡¯s ruling Fidesz party.

Subsequent amendments to the country¡¯s conflict of interest rules, the EU concluded, ¡°still [did] not prevent top-level officials, including senior political executives from the National Assembly and Hungary¡¯s autonomous bodies, from sitting on boards of public interest asset management foundations¡±.

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Earlier this month, the Hungarian government requested that the funding freeze be?lifted, informing the European Commission of legislative changes intended to address conflict of interest issues. ¡°The commission, however, concluded that the legislative amendments do?not adequately address the outstanding concerns on conflicts of interests in the boards of public interest trusts,¡± it?said, adding: ¡°The commission clearly outlined adaptations that would be needed to sufficiently remedy the situation.¡±

At a press conference, Bal¨¢zs Hank¨®, Hungary¡¯s minister for culture and innovation, said the European Commission had ¡°deprived young Hungarian university students and researchers of their most basic EU?right¡±. He?continued: ¡°While it is punishing Hungary with a rule of law procedure, it is punishing Hungarian universities, researchers and university students in violation of EU?legislation.¡±

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Speaking to?Times ÖйúAƬ earlier this year, Dr?Hank¨® said the Hungarian government had attempted to meet Brussels¡¯ conditions. He insisted that the switch to the foundation model had been driven by universities, saying, ¡°the debate with Brussels [about these reforms] is?not between Brussels and the Hungarian government, the debate is between the decision of the university senates and Brussels¡±.

Critics, however, have accused the government of attempting to?pressure Hungary¡¯s remaining public universities into adopting the foundation model. They have pointed, too, to Mr?Orb¨¢n¡¯s own acknowledgement that the government would appoint board members with ¡°a?national approach¡± while excluding anyone with an ¡°internationalist, globalist¡± outlook.

emily.dixon@timeshighereducation.com