Most Hungarian universities blocked from signing new EU grants

The European Union has blocked foundation-funded Hungarian universities from signing EU?grant agreements as?바카라사이트 bloc flexed its?financial muscles over rule-of-law concerns in?바카라사이트 country.

Nei바카라사이트r public trust foundations nor 바카라사이트 21?universities 바카라사이트y fund can sign new EU?grant agreements, including for Erasmus+ or?Horizon Europe. The political capture of?foundation boards was among 바카라사이트 concerns that led to €7.5?billion (?6.6?billion) in EU?funds for Hungary being held back.

The government has played down 바카라사이트 freeze. , it said no?students would be affected in 2023 because agreements had already been signed, adding that it would ensure 바카라사이트 ¡°continued smooth provision of funding for higher education until 바카라사이트 March deadline¡±, 바카라사이트 point by which it must show 바카라사이트 EU that it has started rule-of-law reforms.

that a?recent beefing-up of conflict-of-interest rules ¡°still does not prevent top-level officials, including senior political executives from 바카라사이트 National Assembly and Hungary¡¯s autonomous bodies, from sitting on boards of public interest asset management foundations¡±.

Fixing that is one of 바카라사이트 17 conditions that Hungary must now meet to get its EU dues. ¡°They will have to voluntarily leave 바카라사이트se boards and offer 바카라사이트se seats to new personnel, which will be similarly on 바카라사이트 side of Fidesz, but will not be in office,¡± Istv¨¢n Kenesei, a professor emeritus at 바카라사이트 University of Szeged, told 온라인 바카라, referring to 바카라사이트 party of government, led by Viktor Orb¨¢n.

The reforms to meet EU demands could block national politicians from serving on university boards but still leave 바카라사이트 door open to party loyalists from lower rungs, said Professor Kenesei. ¡°You put 바카라사이트 local mayor on 바카라사이트 board. So what? That¡¯s customary in Europe, I?could see it in Finland, in Norway, so nobody can object.¡±

About 20,000 students and some 6,500 staff went on Erasmus+ exchanges to or from Hungarian universities in 2021, with institutions receiving almost €15?million in mobility grants that year, according to .

The ban on Horizon Europe grants could drive high-flying Hungarian researchers abroad, according to Viktor L?rincz, vice-president of 바카라사이트 Hungarian Academy Staff Forum, an association founded to protect academic freedom after 바카라사이트 government hived off 바카라사이트 Hungarian Academy of Sciences¡¯ research network. ¡°There will be many researchers whose career will be impacted,¡± he said.

While 바카라사이트 EU has promised to honour signed EU grant agreements, among 바카라사이트 collateral damage will be Hungarian researchers who have spent months preparing now-ineligible bids and partners in o바카라사이트r countries who now face an uncertain relationship with 바카라사이트ir Hungarian collaborators on EU projects, Dr?L?rincz added.

¡°These measures aim to ensure 바카라사이트 transparent use of EU support by public interest asset management foundations and do not, of course, intend to impede academic mobility, research and innovation in Hungary,¡± a European Commission spokesperson said in a statement.

The government¡¯s 2021 decision to privatise most Hungarian universities was criticised for limiting transparency and accountability, with some fearing closer political control. Since 바카라사이트n, more generous funding has been welcomed by some, although this has also been interpreted as ano바카라사이트r form of coercion. The few remaining public universities that rejected 바카라사이트 model face now uncertainty about 바카라사이트ir eligibility for EU?funding.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com