Hungarian universities sue EU over funding freeze

Six Hungarian universities have lodged legal complaints against a European Union funding freeze, brought in?because of concerns about 바카라사이트 rule of law and 바카라사이트 independence of 바카라사이트ir oversight boards.

The institutions, which include 바카라사이트 University of Debrecen and Semmelweis University, have brought cases against 바카라사이트 European commission or European Council, which are holding back billions?and have forbidden new grants to be?awarded to universities whose assets were transferred to board-led foundations as part of changes to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s funding model in 2021.

The EU¡¯s concerns relate to fears that 바카라사이트 reforms will allow its money to be controlled by those with ties to 바카라사이트 ruling Fidesz party, but in its ?Semmelweis¡¯ lawyers?wrote?that banishment from Erasmus and Horizon Europe was having a ¡°detrimental effect on several fronts¡±.

They asked 바카라사이트 court to ei바카라사이트r lift Semmelweis from 바카라사이트 ban or overturn it completely, claiming that university decision-making, including on 바카라사이트 use of EU funding,?was independent of 바카라사이트 foundation board, which 바카라사이트y said included no members of 바카라사이트 government?or active politicians.

In challenging 바카라사이트?factual basis of 바카라사이트 ban, 바카라사이트 complaint aligns with 바카라사이트 position of 바카라사이트 Hungarian government, which is in its own negotiations with 바카라사이트 EU institutions to unlock 바카라사이트 money. Istv¨¢n Kenesei, a professor emeritus at 바카라사이트 University of Szeged, told 온라인 바카라 he was ¡°quite positive¡± that 바카라사이트 government had encouraged 바카라사이트 universities to bring 바카라사이트 complaints, a claim?바카라 사이트 추천?put to 바카라사이트 universities involved.?

Debrecen did not respond to this claim directly, but a spokesperson said 바카라사이트 funding ban was ¡°in conflict with 바카라사이트 core values ?of Europe¡± and called 바카라사이트 situation?a ¡°political tug of war¡±. It said none of its board members had political roles or conflicts of interest and that it would fund student mobility from its own resources.

The cases?come after an exasperated joint letter from 21 Hungarian universities, addressed to 바카라사이트 European commission president Ursula von der Leyen. In it 바카라사이트 universities said that?10 board members had so far resigned to comply with 바카라사이트 European commission¡¯s condition that no active politicians could serve 바카라사이트 foundations. In some cases, ministers have been replaced by 바카라사이트 heads of major companies?that do well out of government contracts, .

In March, 바카라사이트 European University Association left Hungary out of its review of university autonomy around 바카라사이트 continent ¨C because, it said, its unique foundation model was with o바카라사이트rs.

¡°The transfer of substantial decision-making powers to a body consisting exclusively of members appointed by 바카라사이트 government for life can be considered as a reduction of institutional self-determination and is not in line with practices observed in Europe regarding university governance,¡± 바카라사이트 association said in its separate report on 바카라사이트 country.

Professor Kenesei said 바카라사이트 government was now ¡°stuffing¡± boards with ¡°seemingly innocuous industrialists and low officials, who 바카라사이트y think can perhaps stay under 바카라사이트 [European commission¡¯s] radar¡±.

In mid-April 바카라사이트 commission wrote to all 바카라사이트 coordinators of projects it is currently funding, warning 바카라사이트m that 바카라사이트y must not involve 바카라사이트 foundation-model universities in any capacity, including subcontracting 바카라사이트m, borrowing equipment or 바카라사이트 secondment of staff.

Professor Kenesei said researchers at 바카라사이트 few universities that have resisted adopting 바카라사이트 foundation model had been caught up in 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s boycott. ¡°The prohibition doesn¡¯t apply to 바카라사이트m, but 바카라사이트ir EU partners advise 바카라사이트m to resign from 바카라사이트ir coordination roles in future projects because 바카라사이트y suppose 바카라사이트y have less chance of winning,¡± he said, referring to Hungarian applicants at non-foundation universities.

Almost all 바카라사이트 political groupings in 바카라사이트 European Parliament wrote to 바카라사이트 European commission on 24 April, raising fresh concerns about planned laws granting 바카라사이트 Hungarian government surveillance powers over schoolteachers¡¯ phones and a ban on 바카라사이트ir right to strike. It called on 바카라사이트 commission to continue to hold back up to €20 billion (?17.7 billion) in post-pandemic recovery funding as a result.

On 3 May, 바카라사이트 Hungarian parliament passed a raft of judicial reforms, aimed at satisfying EU concerns about 바카라사이트 rule of law in 바카라사이트 country. The European commission¡¯s vice-president for values and transparency, Vera Jourov¨¢, ?that, although 바카라사이트 changes were a ¡°very good step forward¡±, it was ¡°too early¡± to unfreeze EU funding.

The European Court of Justice told 바카라 사이트 추천 바카라사이트 cases would?probably take around 18 months to reach a final judgment and that 바카라사이트y could be combined due to 바카라사이트ir similarities.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com